Reading Joel's books, and realizing the advantages of the moving chickens around to get new grass and bugs.as well as to "spread the fertilizer around", was the inspiration for Tim researching the tractor system further.

He ordered plans from John Suscovich (see kinks below). There were other folks that made modifications to the original plan, such as adding a metal roof vs a canvas tarp. Tim wanted to build the coop to last and was not as concerned about the overall weight once constructed - the tractor would do the heavy lifting

As the chicken tractor neared completion, the chickens were getting more and more crowded in their little coop.

So, when they were mature enough to be outside, we moved them from the old gray trailer to their new coop. that was quite an ordeal. Tiny chicks are easy to catch, but try and corral an adolescent bird. It took both of us and a lot of patience to get them into the new yard. However, once out in the sunshine with fresh grass, they adapted quite well

As the summer grew hotter, it was obvious they needed more shade. The next phase would give them the needed protection, shade and so much more.

The idea of adding small wheels to the chicken tractor was good on paper. However, Tim had added more sturdy construction to ensure the longevity of the structure. The small wheels were not going to work.

He had been doing more research and felt that he could mount the tractor onto a trailer bed and be able to move it around with the tractor. Thankfully, his brother, Danny, decided to make a visit about the time the trailer was to be assembled. With his help, the trailer was completed, Tim hoisted the coop onto a set of legs, tied it off with chains to the rafters of the barn, then moved the trailer under the coop.

These chickens never had it so good, Comfortable, safe coop for sleeping, plenty of roosting area, verandas for a better view of the yard, and shade for the hot summer sun. Add to that, lots of fresh bugs and grass to enjoy.

For us, the automation Tim built into the coop makes management easy. Automatic, dusk-to-dawn front door. Nesting box with roll-away egg trays. Heated auto watering system good year round.