These look awesome! I reached out to Michael. I was about to start building some of the regular style, but instead, I'll be ordering some as soon as I can. Btw, we got our chicks today. Not as fast as I would have liked, but 100% still alive when I picked them up an hour ago.
Glad you got your chicks!! Michael is a great guy. We’ve put this one in service and love it so far. Light, looks good and solid. He was here yesterday doing some electrical work. Smart dude.
I like it but I wouldn’t do more of them. They are actually TOO light. Had the wind pick one up and blow it across the field last year. Luckily it was empty at the time.
Looks great for those places that don't get much wind, unfortunately where I live we get very high winds regularly and unless this is tied down I think it would fly away. I know some people around me have made the regular wood ones and had them fly away in the wind in open areas. I will definitely remember this if I ever get smart and move away from the wind.
I'm going to go with the pressure treated lumber on the bottom just for weight because it's windy here, but also making it tall enough to stand up in is important. As you said, we aren't getting any younger. Also going with hardware cloth for the bottom as we have raccoons who will just go through chicken wire.
Awesome job, have him make you a big one to try , to see if you like it I bet you will cuz it’s lighter . Next year put your old stile on 2x4 pt or bricks for storage so the runners are not in contact with the ground all off season whisking up water . They will last longer. I know they are pt but pt isn’t as good as it was. Hopfully he makes a fortune. Cuz of your endorsement. Todd
@@SheratonParkFarms, Agreed, lumber is getting ridiculous, and trying to get straight boards that aren't warped and twisted is a pain. By the time you factor in the cost of materials and the time to build it yourself, I think these are very reasonable!
What's the weight compared to the wooden one? I'm 5'1, not a weightlifter & will be doing most animal care myself. We will use a smaller kubota or a 4whlr to move them but there is still always some manual movement involved at some point
How many years do you get out of the wooden tractor design? Do you have this metal one in production right now? For how long, and how many more years do you think you can get out of the metal design?
nice except the Suscovich chicken tractor was designed as a Homesteader can do it on the cheap.That is not cheap and can not be shipped any were. If money does not matter and you can weld nice.
Love your channel, but I’m gonna have to be a little critical here. These things are designed to be simple & inexpensive so anyone can build it. Not everyone has welding equipment or knows how to weld and that’s another expense. Plus pipe is really expensive. When you build one out of wood you can build it out of scraps. Also having someone build it for you kind of defeats the purpose. Now you’re paying someone to build something that even a child could build. In fact Justin Rhodes had his kids build one. The point of homesteading or having a small farm is being self-sufficient and frugal. Using expensive materials and making something much more complicated than it has to be or even worse paying someone to build it for you defeats the purpose and it hurts your cash flow and your profits. Criticism aside, it is incredible looking and I have thought about something similar to that. But rather than metal which is expensive and requires welding I thought about using PVC. And of course they are certainly older people or women that don’t have these type of skills that live in your area that could benefit from someone else like Michael building it for them. So I appreciate you showing it and this could be valuable for some people. FYI you said you’re getting older and it’s harder for you to bend over or kneel down to grab the chickens. It doesn’t matter what style chicken tractor you use the chickens are still small and on the ground. You still have to bend over or lean down to pick up a chicken regardless of the type of chicken tractor you use. Actually, that’s not true. I’m not sure if you are familiar with Justin Rhodes’ channel. Although that would be almost impossible for anyone into farming homesteading and UA-cam. Lol! He’s in western North Carolina as well Fantastic video content. He has a modified version of the Joel Salatin Chicken Tractor that is a cross between the low-profile chicken tractor and an oriental rickshaw. He calls it the Chic-Shaw and I have seen numerous people on UA-cam on homesteads copy it that are doing chickens on a small scale. And it in fact because it uses large tires could prevent someone from having to bend over as much. But you probably wouldn’t use his style chicken tractor on a large scale. But it would be great for a homesteader as opposed to a homesteader that is also trying to raise chickens on a larger scale for profits. But it is very cool! And I have seen people copying it. I prefer the Joel Salatin style chicken tractor but I would make a few minor modifications. The Succovich (sp) gothic style however would be better for large birds like geese or turkeys and could even be modified for rabbits. So I certainly appreciate it’s design and see how it can have some advantages especially with bigger birds. Despite those minor criticisms I have thoroughly enjoyed your channel! You guys are putting together some excellent educational content. I used to watch stony Ridge farmer but it has become obvious he’s more about being a UA-camr that actually being a homesteader. All he’s really doing is raising about 30 head of cattle. He’s obviously an intelligent and entertaining guy that has gotten drunk on UA-cam and now focuses almost 100% on creating UA-cam contact as opposed to actually being an authentic homesteader or really even a small farmer other than his small herd of cattle. I’ve known people raise more cattle, on a basic piece of land with no equipment other than a pick up truck. So he has obviously become more about UA-cam than why we’re all here. So keep up the great work. You guys are putting out some quality entertaining and more importantly educational content and doing it in a very authentic and wholesome way. I think those of us that are truly interested in homesteading and living a simpler life really appreciate that and put a premium on it! I also would love to thank you for introducing me and others to Red Tool House!!! Speaking of other UA-cam channels, are you familiar with Living Web Farms? That is an excellent UA-cam channel that all farmers and homesteaders should be watching. I can’t believe they have less than 200,000 subscribers. The channel itself is not a homesteading channel but the people that run the organization and put together a continent or homesteaders and farmers. Their content is incredible and exactly what an educational channel should be about!
We’ve had enough wind that the zip ties have broken and the tarp came off. I’d be worried that it’s not heavy enough but lm curious to see how it works for you
That’s one benefit to having the Joel Salatin style chicken tractor because it’s so short, it doesn’t get as much wind. The Stoney Ridge Farmer made one of Joel’s style tractors using 4” PVC and corrugated plastic, which made it much lighter than the wooden and metal. As long as bending over isn’t a problem, that’s a viable option to look into.
I don't know. I would think it would hold up ok. I mean if you add wheels to the back like Chuck mentioned and didn't drag it directly on the ground, that would help, and attaching the points you pull to the corners, not to the horizontal piece, I think it would hold up pretty well.
Couldn’t a new version be an improvement over an old version? Would “version” make it acceptable jargon or is it like when someone says they’ll send an “invite” meaning “invitation”. A verb isn’t a noun just because you don’t want to say a full word. 🤔🤪
These look awesome! I reached out to Michael. I was about to start building some of the regular style, but instead, I'll be ordering some as soon as I can. Btw, we got our chicks today. Not as fast as I would have liked, but 100% still alive when I picked them up an hour ago.
Glad you got your chicks!! Michael is a great guy. We’ve put this one in service and love it so far. Light, looks good and solid. He was here yesterday doing some electrical work. Smart dude.
That chicken tractor is pretty slick... you got my brain gears turning!!
Thanks. We’ve put it to use and really like it.
This is from 2 years ago. How has it held up?? Would you switch to all metal away from the wood style now that you've used it??
I like it but I wouldn’t do more of them. They are actually TOO light. Had the wind pick one up and blow it across the field last year. Luckily it was empty at the time.
Would you consider selling it?
@@johngrindstaff4613 wish I could but we are using it again this year
I was just debating on doing this but instead of welding just doing it with fittings
That may work. Good idea.
That chicken tractor want hold up. Once it is pulled around. It will bend and not last. Thanks Glenn
Looks great for those places that don't get much wind, unfortunately where I live we get very high winds regularly and unless this is tied down I think it would fly away. I know some people around me have made the regular wood ones and had them fly away in the wind in open areas. I will definitely remember this if I ever get smart and move away from the wind.
Great idea, especially for our humidity.
Thanks
Nice improvements on the chicken tractor. All metal and probably much lighter in total weight.
I'm going to go with the pressure treated lumber on the bottom just for weight because it's windy here, but also making it tall enough to stand up in is important. As you said, we aren't getting any younger. Also going with hardware cloth for the bottom as we have raccoons who will just go through chicken wire.
Morning chuck and Saundra
Morning Bud!
Awesome job, have him make you a big one to try , to see if you like it I bet you will cuz it’s lighter . Next year put your old stile on 2x4 pt or bricks for storage so the runners are not in contact with the ground all off season whisking up water . They will last longer. I know they are pt but pt isn’t as good as it was. Hopfully he makes a fortune. Cuz of your endorsement. Todd
We've thought about trying something bigger. I hope he does. Already has 2 orders!
I like the full metal building for meat chickens but how would you put in a nest 📦
The door should be arch always, i bump my head many times before my own improvements.
Agree!
Looks like a great improved - I’m assuming it’s much lighter also! Thanks for sharing.
Yes! Much lighter. Gonna be a lot easier to move.
how heavy is it?
Would you even need wheels?
It would make moving easier for sure.
What camera set up do you use for the VLOG???
I use my iPhone and a DJI Osmo Action.
Pretty ingenious - cost wise up front vs the wood frame?
Based on lumber costs I don’t think this would be much more expensive.
@@SheratonParkFarms, Agreed, lumber is getting ridiculous, and trying to get straight boards that aren't warped and twisted is a pain. By the time you factor in the cost of materials and the time to build it yourself, I think these are very reasonable!
Is the conduit emt or rigid?
How do you deal with predator pressure?
We have a guard dog and these are fairly secure. You can also put electric netting around them for added security.
What's the cost? Seems like it would be less heavy as well.
It is less heavy. Not sure what he is charging for them. I bet with lumber prices like they are it’s very comparable.
I’ve been asking my husband to build me 1 of these for awhile but hasn’t yet unfortunately. They’re great especially for meat chickens
Agree. We love the style.
What's the weight compared to the wooden one? I'm 5'1, not a weightlifter & will be doing most animal care myself. We will use a smaller kubota or a 4whlr to move them but there is still always some manual movement involved at some point
This one is much lighter than the wooden framed one.
How many years do you get out of the wooden tractor design?
Do you have this metal one in production right now? For how long, and how many more years do you think you can get out of the metal design?
nice except the Suscovich chicken tractor was designed as a Homesteader can do it on the cheap.That is not cheap and can not be shipped any were. If money does not matter and you can weld nice.
Thanks
That’s a nice tractor...I’m assuming it’s lighter than the traditional one?
Yes! Much lighter.
Love your channel, but I’m gonna have to be a little critical here. These things are designed to be simple & inexpensive so anyone can build it. Not everyone has welding equipment or knows how to weld and that’s another expense. Plus pipe is really expensive. When you build one out of wood you can build it out of scraps.
Also having someone build it for you kind of defeats the purpose. Now you’re paying someone to build something that even a child could build. In fact Justin Rhodes had his kids build one.
The point of homesteading or having a small farm is being self-sufficient and frugal. Using expensive materials and making something much more complicated than it has to be or even worse paying someone to build it for you defeats the purpose and it hurts your cash flow and your profits.
Criticism aside, it is incredible looking and I have thought about something similar to that. But rather than metal which is expensive and requires welding I thought about using PVC. And of course they are certainly older people or women that don’t have these type of skills that live in your area that could benefit from someone else like Michael building it for them. So I appreciate you showing it and this could be valuable for some people.
FYI you said you’re getting older and it’s harder for you to bend over or kneel down to grab the chickens. It doesn’t matter what style chicken tractor you use the chickens are still small and on the ground. You still have to bend over or lean down to pick up a chicken regardless of the type of chicken tractor you use.
Actually, that’s not true. I’m not sure if you are familiar with Justin Rhodes’ channel. Although that would be almost impossible for anyone into farming homesteading and UA-cam. Lol! He’s in western North Carolina as well Fantastic video content. He has a modified version of the Joel Salatin Chicken Tractor that is a cross between the low-profile chicken tractor and an oriental rickshaw. He calls it the Chic-Shaw and I have seen numerous people on UA-cam on homesteads copy it that are doing chickens on a small scale. And it in fact because it uses large tires could prevent someone from having to bend over as much. But you probably wouldn’t use his style chicken tractor on a large scale. But it would be great for a homesteader as opposed to a homesteader that is also trying to raise chickens on a larger scale for profits. But it is very cool! And I have seen people copying it.
I prefer the Joel Salatin style chicken tractor but I would make a few minor modifications. The Succovich (sp) gothic style however would be better for large birds like geese or turkeys and could even be modified for rabbits. So I certainly appreciate it’s design and see how it can have some advantages especially with bigger birds.
Despite those minor criticisms I have thoroughly enjoyed your channel! You guys are putting together some excellent educational content. I used to watch stony Ridge farmer but it has become obvious he’s more about being a UA-camr that actually being a homesteader. All he’s really doing is raising about 30 head of cattle. He’s obviously an intelligent and entertaining guy that has gotten drunk on UA-cam and now focuses almost 100% on creating UA-cam contact as opposed to actually being an authentic homesteader or really even a small farmer other than his small herd of cattle. I’ve known people raise more cattle, on a basic piece of land with no equipment other than a pick up truck. So he has obviously become more about UA-cam than why we’re all here. So keep up the great work. You guys are putting out some quality entertaining and more importantly educational content and doing it in a very authentic and wholesome way. I think those of us that are truly interested in homesteading and living a simpler life really appreciate that and put a premium on it!
I also would love to thank you for introducing me and others to Red Tool House!!!
Speaking of other UA-cam channels, are you familiar with Living Web Farms? That is an excellent UA-cam channel that all farmers and homesteaders should be watching. I can’t believe they have less than 200,000 subscribers. The channel itself is not a homesteading channel but the people that run the organization and put together a continent or homesteaders and farmers. Their content is incredible and exactly what an educational channel should be about!
With the price of wood right now, you may as well go this way. If I put a tarp on it I would probably find a way to anchor it down.
Agree. Lumber is crazy prices right now.
100
Thanks
We’ve had enough wind that the zip ties have broken and the tarp came off. I’d be worried that it’s not heavy enough but lm curious to see how it works for you
We don’t have a lot of high winds here. It is lighter than the wood frame.
That’s one benefit to having the Joel Salatin style chicken tractor because it’s so short, it doesn’t get as much wind. The Stoney Ridge Farmer made one of Joel’s style tractors using 4” PVC and corrugated plastic, which made it much lighter than the wooden and metal. As long as bending over isn’t a problem, that’s a viable option to look into.
I'm over zip ties, bailing wire and pliers work much better (slower but better).
Good Morning lol
Morning!!!
hey it looks good but it will not work the conduit (EMT) will not hold up to being pulled across the ground sorry for the bad news
Have you tried it in the past?
PVC becomes brittle as it’s exposed to UV Ray’s is my understanding.
I don't know. I would think it would hold up ok. I mean if you add wheels to the back like Chuck mentioned and didn't drag it directly on the ground, that would help, and attaching the points you pull to the corners, not to the horizontal piece, I think it would hold up pretty well.
I have this thing about "new and imoroved". That just isn't possible. If it's "new" it's not "improved"! If it's "imoroved" it's not "new"!
🤣🤣 I have a friend who says the same thing.
Couldn’t a new version be an improvement over an old version?
Would “version” make it acceptable jargon or is it like when someone says they’ll send an “invite” meaning “invitation”. A verb isn’t a noun just because you don’t want to say a full word. 🤔🤪
Is that pipe 3/4 inch,1 inch or larger?