Build a Chicken Tractor – Buying Construction Materials
Once you have bought your chicken tractor plans, to save on expenses, it is recommended that you shop for your chicken tractor building supplies from second hand shops. You never know the kind of bargain you will be able to find in these shops.
Check the plan you have chosen and copy the list of materials from the plan. If you will have less than 4 chickens in the coop, the size of the coop is sufficient but for future expansion purposes and to preclude building another coop after a year or two, it may be best to double (or triple) the original size of the chicken coop. Make sure that all of the basics are taken cared of before you buy a single piece of lumber.
If you take the advice to find used lumber in building your chicken tractor then one of the problems you’ll face is getting them all in the same lengths – don’t worry, you can always cut them to size but bear in mind that the shortest piece you find should also be the dimensions of the smallest piece in the chicken tractor plan that you have chosen to avoid unnecessary joints.
In choosing your lumber pieces, make sure to:
- Choose wood that are bigger or longer than the actual dimensions specified (you need to sand them clean yet) which means they’ll become a little bit smaller.
- Choose lumber that you can cut in half to make two equal pieces of the same length.
- Don’t worry about the cracks in the wood, the age of the wood guarantees that they are dry and will not split.
- Buy as much as you need that are available in the second hand shop, you’ll discover what a bargain (not to mention fun) it is to build your backyard chicken coop.
