Building An Affordable Chicken Tractor

By Oussama Omary

When building a chicken tractor, make sure to consider building materials like wood, plywood, or chipwood. Considering an alternative building material, if conducive to the surrounding environment, will keep your costs in check while providing an excellent and sturdy structure. There are pros and cons to all three which I will explain in my article.

Using Wood

Wood is a sturdy building material and allows for creative customization. Using paint or stain, designing your own personal look, will bring warmth and fun into your project. If you opt for a thicker variety of wood, you may be able to get better insulation for the coop than plywood or chipboard. A disadvantage of using wood is that it is more susceptible to shrinking from season to season, particularly if you live in a climate that gets a fair amount of rain or is humid. There are products that are moisture resistant designed to help with this type of climate but do your research first before buying.

Building using Plywood

Plywood is a low cost building supplement and is one of the most versatile man-made woodworking materials. It is composed of thin strips of wood laid in alternating directions and bonded together with strong glue. Because of how plywood is designed, it is much less likely to shrink. There are a variety of different types of plywood ranging from Douglas Fir, Spruce, Pine, and Fir. Like wood, there are products available that are moisture resistance. A disadvantage of using plywood is that the adhesive glues that are used to create the material can begin to give off formaldehyde, which can become problematic if your chickens are exposed to the formaldehyde. Again, if you are in a rainy or humid climate, check out pre-treated woods and plywoods or products designed to keep shrinkage and climate damage away.

Chipboard

Chipboard is a pressed fiber that looks and feels like thick paper. It is made from other recycled papers and is extremely thin. Chipboard is easy to customize, allowing for you to create a personalized well decorated chicken tractor. The downside is that Chipboard will not hold up in harsh, rainy, or humid climates. I do not recommend this option for larger chicken tractors.