chicken tractor (tiller) part deuce

The project continues. An old blue plastic pitcher that had been gathering dust for years got a makeover (I knew I was saving that for a good reason, just not exactly which one).

I drilled small holes in the spout and handle, snipped up a clothes hanger for suspension, and installed a leftover poultry nipple. Classy blue chicken waterer.

Then I dusted off a tiny plastic tarp that I’d bought on sale a while ago (2 for $5), grabbed a few more zip ties, and had instant cover. Also matching classy blue.

Time for a test drive. The girls were a little freaked for a bit, what with a suddenly expanding universe.

But soon, in they went. Success! They even enjoyed the classy blue waterer within a few minutes.

There’s still one concern. The tractor is nice and light, pretty easy to drag. But the chickens are a little flighty and they bunch up as far away from me as they can get, which means at the end being dragged. I think that could spell injured legs for the girls if a foot gets caught under the frame.

I have a set of wheels from and old cart (of course), but retrofitting a PVC frame will be challenging. I’ll have to find an axle the right size and figure out a way to attach it. But one step at a time.

They seemed to love it once the tractor stopped moving. I let them scavenge for a couple of hours and then moved them back into their pen without a hitch.

Now on to the next challenge…wheels.

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