How To Put Wheels On Chicken Coop

Fed up with watching your chickens play around in the aforementioned worn out space? Whether you own a stationary coop but want it to be mobile, or are planning to build a mobile coop, wheels get in happen! In this article, we'll show y'all how to attach wheels to a chicken tractor.

Is this a complicated job? Nope, not actually. There are more than complicated means of calculation wheels that can be adapted upward or down which are nifty. But if you're looking for something simpler, you've come to the right place!

Why Use Coop Wheels?

If you have a particular spot in the m where your coop just HAS to be, that'south great. You probably won't need wheels on it since yous've already planned out information technology's positioning. Simply we'll accept a look at a few reasons why wheels can exist a great addition to any coop.

Mobility

It goes without proverb that wheels can make your coop mobile…duh! But what are other variables to consider? Beneath is a await at the advantages and disadvantages of having a mobile coop.

PROS

Good for your chickens – Moving the coop around to different areas of the yard or pastures is proficient for them. New bugs, grass, seeds, and scenery keeps them happy

Good for your grass – Your lawn or pasture volition get daily or weekly (depending on how often you move the coop) fertilizer on it.

Inspect your flock – While moving your coop, you'll have a chance to examine your chickens, looking for any wellness issues.

Flexibility – If y'all'd prefer having a stationary coop placement somewhere in your yard, but aren't sure where, being able to motility your coop around is helpful for finding just the correct spot.

Also, just considering you accept wheels on the coop, doesn't mean you HAVE to move information technology. It tin remain stationary!

CONS

Extra Work – Depending on how frequently you movement it, exist it daily, weekly, bi-weekly, etc., you lot'll accept to go through the effort of physically lifting and moving it.

Poop on the lawn – Although the grass gets fertilized, the "side event" is the poop! A double edged sword I suppose. Consider avoiding the area where the coop just moved from, at to the lowest degree for a few days.

Aesthetics – Some people don't like the look of wheels on the coop and prefer the stand lonely await. To each his ain! It'south a matter of personal preference.

Types of Wheels

At that place are MANY bicycle options that can be used for your coop or run. We discuss many of them in this article. But nosotros'll list a few of the most common types of wheels used for chicken tractors here.

Pneumatic Tires

These are a very mutual type of bike. It's the blazon of wheel that is hollow inside and needs to exist aired upwards. They can have tubes or only be tubeless.

Solid Prophylactic Apartment Gratuitous Tires

These tires contain solid condom all the fashion through. No airing upward tires! Although they price more than pneumatic, they are nearly maintenance costless once installed.

It'southward a favorite type of wheel we utilise for lawn mowers, hand trucks, wheel barrows, and the similar.

Bicycle Tires

We've seen wheel tires on chicken coops too! These are easy to find at thrift stores if you lot're wanting to save some money.

The tricky part would be installing them as they are larger than most pneumatic wheels. But hey, when there'due south a will there'southward a way!

Lawn Mower Tires

The type of lawnmower wheel pictured above is like shooting fish in a barrel to discover at hardware stores, thrift stores, garage sales, or online. Simple and easy to install, and no airing up!

More than on types of wheels that can be used for craven coops or tractors can be institute in this article

Size Of Wheels

Every bit for the correct size of wheel to utilize, it's important not to pick also small of a wheel or the weight of the coop will not allow it to move freely.

If you take small coop, a smaller bike will piece of work just fine. Every bit a general dominion of thumb, nosotros advise a wheel at least half dozen inches or larger.

For a big coop, a larger bike size volition exist needed. Large craven tractors, the kind that are pulled by a tractor, use car tires or similar size! Encounter picture below. But for the average small coop, anything from 6 to 12 inches in bore should work nicely.

Tips And Tidbits

For this article, nosotros are talking nigh attaching a wheel to a smaller sized coop vs the larger, heaver models.

When completed the coop will set effectually one/2 to 1 inch off the ground on the run end of your coop/run.

A Word OF CAUTION: If you have a lot of issues with predators trying to pause into your coop or run, you may demand to consider a unlike set up. Since the coop is elevated slightly, it leaves an opening (ableit a narrow one) for whatever would-be predator to effort and go far.

Although it's only elevated an inch or less, information technology could provide plenty of an opening to achieve a manus in or lift the coop loftier enough to crawl in. It may not be the most probable scenario but some predators are very clever!

Some mobile coops have wheels or axles that tin be adapted upward or downwardly. This is great because the run lays apartment on the footing when stationary but tin be moved up when wanting to motility it. An case of this type of mobile coop is the Eglu Cube.

For our purposes today, nosotros are just covering one of the SIMPLEST ways of calculation wheels to a mobile coop/run.

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OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

For this postal service, we'll assume the bolt size is a standard 5/8 commodities only it can vary in diameter depending on the size of the bore of the wheels chosen for your run.

If you're using a backyard mower wheel, you tin can buy shoulder bolts (run into movie below). These are great but volition cost a flake more than than a standard commodities. However, they're a wonderful selection for this type of wheel.

The bolts demand to match the size of the diameter, or center hole in the metallic or plastic hub. Run across photograph below. Measure with a tape measure out and head to the hardware shop to go the correct size bolts, washers, and nuts. Or only take a bike to the store to notice the best fit.

Annotation: Bores may have bushings or bearings in them, depending on the type of wheel. Since a mobile coop will non be moved very far, it'due south not crucial to accept a wheel with these components as at that place isn't a lot of 'wear and tear' on the cycle prepare upward. As long equally the axle fits through it and the wheel spins freely, it should work nicely.

For more information on lawnmower wheels, see this article.

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Materials and Tools List

The following materials are needed:

• 2 wheels of your selection.
• Two five/8 inch bolts. The length should exist around one inch longer than the distance through the frame and bore (around 8 inches +-); Again, the bolts used simply need to match the bore of your chosen wheel.
• 4 5/8 inch washers (ii for each side) ; Washers should match the bolt size.
• Two 5/eight basics (one for each side) ; Nuts should lucifer bolt size.

Tools:

• Drill
• Drill bit (for forest) to match size of diameter. A smidge larger than the bore is ok, simply non smaller since yous don't want to be pounding it through the hole, which can damage the threads of the bolt or split the wood frame piece.
• Wrench to tighten bolts. If you lot don't have a tool prepare, a crescent wrench will work fine (run across picture show below)

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*Refer to the pictures for a frame of reference while following the directions*

1. Start by putting the coop/run on a apartment surface. And so elevate the run terminate of the coop 1/two to one inch off the ground with a piece or two of scrap wood. A left over iii/4 inch piece of scrap woods should work nicely.

two. Once propped upwardly, fix the cycle against the lower outside corner frame where you want to place the cycle. Since the coop is propped upward, the bike will already be at the correct height.

3. Take a pencil, slide information technology into the bore and brand a mark on the frame.

4. Pull the wheel away and measure the eye of the frame with a tape mensurate or carpenter square and mark information technology.

5. Then place your drill chip on the mark and begin drilling until you're all the mode through.

For estimating size of flake needed, HomeAdvisor figures one/64 larger than the bolt size. When we drill, nosotros kickoff try a bit that matches the bolt size exactly. If it'due south also tight of a fit, we endeavour the next bit size up.

The standard length of drill bits is unremarkably four 1/two inches long, which should be long enough if drilling through two two×two framing boards. If you are using thicker lumber, you can find (or buy) $.25 that are several inches long.

Circumspection: Be careful not to let the flake scrape confronting the inside of the bore as well much since y'all don't want to damage the hub or your bit!

Now you're gear up to bolt the wheel on!

6. Line the bike upward to the hole in the frame, put a washer on the bolt and slide the bolt through. Put the other washer on the threaded end and spiral the nut on. Bolt should exist an inch or and then longer than the finish of the bore, as in photograph.

The threaded part of the bolt tin be on the inside or outside the coop, whatsoever your preference. Many prefer the threads on the exterior since they're easier to access if they need tightening.

7. Tighten with a wrench.

With this fix if you tighten it too much, the bike can bind and non spin very well. Simply tighten the nut a footling scrap tighter than you can do with your mitt. Check to make sure the bicycle can spin, but doesn't have also much play.

Below is a video showing how a wheel is installed on a push button mower to give you an idea.

eight. Repeat the process with the other wheel.

9. Attach the handles on the sides of coop opposite the wheels, and you're all set!

Note: The beam bolts may demand occasional re-tightening from time to time.

That'south it. Yous only added wheels to your coop!

Hither's what it will look like with handles installed:

Terminal Thoughts

Nosotros promise yous constitute this tutorial helpful. Every bit you lot can run across, it'due south not the about compicated task to take on.

This simple way of attaching wheels to a run or coop is not recommended for heavier coops because the wheels would demark. Simply for smaller coops made of lighter building materials, it can work great.

Thanks for stopping by and we wish you all the best in your craven raising adventures! Happy Chickening.

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