A picture speaks a thousand words. So here are over 140 pictures of chicken tractors I have collected! No blueprints, no descriptions, just pictures. I hope they inspire your own project. A chicken tractor is basically a bottomless cage or pen of some kind. This is so the chickens can scratch (a chicken's raison de etre) and eat off of the ground such things as grass, weeds, bugs, etc. In the U.K., chicken tractors are called chicken arks. You can drag or roll your chicken tractor around the yard if you want. They often feature wheels. Without a cage bottom, the chicken manure goes directly onto the ground and becomes fertilizer. Chicken tractors are perfect for a small number of city chickens. If you don't want to move your chicken tractor, just let the manure accumulate. Throw fresh straw or wood shavings on top of the poop to absorb any standing water. When a bunch of layers of litter and manure have accumulated, just move the tractor, rake up the poop with a hard-tined rake, and compost or throw away. I have had success even giving away my dirty chicken litter. I put an ad for "free fertilizer" in my local for-sale newsgroup and gardeners come and take it. There's a book that's been around for awhile about chicken tractors. Do you have an awesome picture of your chicken tractor? Send it in!

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TheCityChicken.com table of contents: MAIN PAGE (chickens.html) CHICKEN TRACTOR GALLERY (tractors.html) PICTORIAL HISTORY (pictorialhistory.html) F.A.Q. (frequentlyasked.html) ARTICLES (articles.html) CHICKEN LAWS (chickenlaws.html) BROODING CHICKS (broodchicks.html) HEN HOUSE of the MONTH (hhotm.html)

"Dear Katy...I found your website and it was inspirational. I checked about bylaws and was told by a bylaw enforcement guy that poultry was never allowed in the city. I went online and found the bylaws and had to email him back and let him know that he was wrong...It pays to do your own research...Anyway, just wanted to say thanks; it really was as easy as you said it would be, and my son and I have so much fun with them. It's an awesome hobby, and when people say to me (as they often do) 'why chickens?' I say back, 'They eat my kitchen scraps, they keep the yard naturally bug free, they give me fertilizer and they give me eggs, I say why NOT chickens?'...Glad I could share my story. It was also your site that convinced my wife to let me get chickens, too! Now THAT'S a testimony!" ----I.G., Victoria, B.C. Canada

"Dear Katy...Thanks for your input. I appreciate it. By the way, of all the websites I've visited on chickens, I've enjoyed yours the most. In fact, your website is the one that convinced me to get chickens. I'm currently designing a tractor that will suit my needs and it's all due to your website. Thanks a lot." ----C.B.

“Dear Katy…I'm Debbie Sterling, owner of Lavender Fields Farm…What a cute and nice site you have. I would like to start recommending it to clients, mostly for the information it contains. I think your site is interesting and informative…Great job!”

"Hi Katy, Thanks so much for the gallery of chicken tractor pics and all the information on your site. My husband and I just got our first three chickens, and so far, we seem to have been well prepared. Attached is the tractor I built, mostly using ideas from your site. Thanks again!" ---Tracy, Ontario, Canada

"Dear Katy...THANK YOU very much for all the wonderful chicken tractor pictures!! I was wondering how to explain what I wanted. You solved that problem. Also, I was amazed to find so many different varieties! Thank you again for all your hard work." --Y.

“Dear Katy, I just stumbled across your website, and your wonderful collection of chicken tractors!! I'm so excited. I feel the times are really changing and we are going back to the veg patches and chickens in the back yard. I'm transforming! I really want my kids to know and appreciate that vegies and eggs don't come from the supermarket! Thank you for all your effort.” ---Rachael M., east coast of Australia

"Dear Katy, Thanks for putting up such an informative, encouraging and inspiring site. I really believe I can do this now." ----Cyndi M., Portland, Oregon

"Hi Katy, We wanted to say thanks for your website and inspiration. Your website has helped us to raise 3 city chickens. Your inspiration has motivated us to build a chicken tractor for ours to enjoy. Thanks for posting all of the chicken tractor examples." ---Rob and Jenn, Texas

"Dear Katy . . . . Thank you so much for taking such an interest in my situation. And I am absolutely loving your website. It really watered those seeds that have been laying dormant inside my soul. Thanks so much. . . . . Yeah, that's it -- I have the chicken bug. How funny." ------Jenna G., Orcutt, California USA

"Dear Katy, For you, a haiku, in appreciation: The City Chicken // emboldens, galvanizes // our inner rancher. Love your website, all of it!" ---Wendy B., eastern Idaho

“Dear Katy…Your site was so incredibly helpful as I figured out a design for my 1st chicken coop. LOVE the gallery of coops you have collected.” ---Dug N., Redwood Cty, CA

"We decided to get chickens for 4-H and 4-eggs too.... I stumbled onto your site and saw all the wonderful tractors and I couldn't build one fast enough....Thanks so much for your site. It gave me a ton of ideas to help me with my project." ---B.W., Sumner, Ilinois USA

“Hi Katy…What a wonderful site! Thank you for this web site. I have been wanting chickens in the yard for a long time but couldn't figure out how in the world to make something small enough for the few that I would need. These are some wonderful ideas; it is hard to pick a favorite…Keep up the good work! I am sharing this site with my friends and neighbors!” ----Ellie C., North Carolina

”I would like to submit my chicken tractor pic for your site. I have thoroughly enjoyed your website and it is where I did most of my research on how to design my chicken tractor… Sorry I don't have pictures of my ‘TheCityChicken.com’ sticker on the coop, but it's on there now! Thank you again for your wonderful site.” ---Kristi M., Citrus Heights, CA

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TheCityChicken.com stickers are just $1. . . . . . . .The stickers are weather-proof, high quality, adhesive-backed vinyl so you can stick them on things like your car bumper, bike or even chicken coop. . . . . . . . . The sticker measures 5.5 inches by 1.42 inches. . . . . . . . . . The color is white with black printing . . . . . .Send a dollar bill to: Katy Skinner, 506 E. Twin Falls St., Yacolt WA 98675. . . . . . . . Canadian and other country customers add an extra $1 bill . . . . . . . .Please, send dollar bills only; no checks. . . . . . . . Please include a S.A.S.E. (self-addressed, stamped envelope.) . . . don't forget the stamp . . . . . . . Don't forget the S.A.S.E.! . . . . . . Thank you!

TheCityChicken.com table of contents: MAIN PAGE (chickens.html) CHICKEN TRACTOR GALLERY (tractors.html) PICTORIAL HISTORY (pictorialhistory.html) F.A.Q. (frequentlyasked.html) ARTICLES (articles.html) CHICKEN LAWS (chickenlaws.html) BROODING CHICKS (broodchicks.html) HEN HOUSE of the MONTH (hhotm.html)

WATER CULTURE SYSTEM Convert an aquarium into a simple hydroponic system. The plants are suspended on a floating Styrofoam platform. This system is popular for classrooms because the roots of the plants are visible hanging below the floating platform.

Materials Required:

AQUARIUM - Any water tight container with fairly vertical sides will work. Light breaks down the nutrient solution and encourages algae growth so if you us an aquarium you will need to construct a light shield out of cardboard or aluminum foil to keep light out of the reservoir (aquarium). If you wish to view the roots make the light shield (or part of it) removable.

FLOATING PLATFORM - You will need a piece of Styrofoam 1 1/2" to 2" thick. Cut Styrofoam to fit loosely inside the aquarium (or whatever you are using for a reservoir).

PLASTIC CUPS - Use several small plastic or Styrofoam cups to hold the plants on the floating platform. (NOTE: We usually use Solo brand 3oz. plastic bathroom cups, but you can use any small plastic cup as long as it has tapered sides).

GROWING MEDIUM - You will need a small amount of growing medium, enough to fill the plastic cups. (NOTE: The Professor recommends using Perlite or a perlite / Vermiculite mix for the growing medium).

AIR PUMP AND AIR STONE - You need to use an air pump and airstone to oxygenate the nutrient solution. A regular air pump designed for an aquarium is all that is required.

HYDROPONIC FERTILIZER * - A good quality hydroponic fertilizer is required, regular "dirt" fertilizers do not contain essential "micro-nutrients". For more information about the differences in hydroponic and "dirt" fertilizers CLICK HERE.

pH TEST KIT * - You will need some way of checking and adjusting the pH of your nutrient solution.

Note: Simply Hydroponics and Organics has an inexpensive "Starter kit" that consists of quality hydroponic fertilizer, a liquid pH test kit (good for hundreds of tests) two bottles of liquid pH adjuster (1 pint pH up, 1 pint pH down) and Instructions. CLICK HERE for additional information.

ASSEMBLY OF SYSTEM

1. Cut the Styrofoam float to fit the reservoir. Cut the float a little smaller than the opening so that it won't bind up when the water level changes.

2. Cut the holes in the float to the proper size for the plastic cups that you are using, you want the bottoms of the cups to hang below the bottom of the float but not fall through. (NOTE: We usually use Solo brand 3oz. plastic bathroom cups, these require a 1 7/8" to 2" hole.

3. Cut several holes (aprox. 1/8" to 1/4" dia.) in the bottom of your plastic cups. Add growing medium to the cup (NOTE: if the growing medium falls out through the holes you can put a small piece of fiberglass window screen or small piece of cloth over the holes before adding the growing medium. For more information about Growing Mediums CLICK HERE).

4. Plant your seedling, rooted cutting or seed in the growing medium.
   

CARE AND FEEDING INSTRUCTIONS

5. Fill the aquarium (reservoir) with water. Mix your nutrient solution as per the instructions on the fertilizer package. Check pH and adjust accordingly. NOTE: The required pH value will vary depending on the requirements of the plant. For more information on pH, CLICK HERE.

6. Attach 1/4" airline to the air stone and place airstone in reservoir. Attach free end of tubing to air pump and plug in air pump to outlet, make sure that there are bubbles coming from the air stone. (NOTE: NEVER submerge the air pump in water as electrical shock could occur).

7. Place floating platform on top of the nutrient solution. Put plastic cups into the holes in the floating platform.

8. When the plants have used up about half of the nutrient solution you can add WATER ONLY to bring the level back up (do not add fertilizer or you could cause a nutrient build up that could harm the plants). Recheck pH and adjust if necessary.

9. When the plants have used half of the nutrient solution for the second time you need to change out the nutrient solution by draining the reservoir and then mix a fresh batch. Use the old nutrient solution on house plants or other vegetation.

Example Types of growing methods used in Hydroponics

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Passive Systems This method of growing hydroponically is very easy and is an ideal introduction to growing without soil. It also needs very little equipment, yet should still allow you to grow plants better than simply in soil. The method you can see in the picture is the way I will be trying to passively grow tomatoes and cucumbers this year (2006), as we currently don't have a greenhouse with electric power this is an ideal time to try this method.

The system is set up by filling up a pot with some medium for the plant to grow in, rather than soil this could be either perlite or clay pebbles which are both popular neutral growing mediums and are easy to purchase in garden centres. The medium is rinsed thoroughly before being placed into the growing pot. If you are using perlite make sure you rinse this in a well ventilated area as dry perlite is very dusty, also make sure the pot you are using has drainage holes in the bottom.

The plant is then placed into the medium like you would plant a normal plant into soil. I have grown my plants from seed and grown them entirely in rockwool cubes so I can just place the cube with the plant straight into the pot.

This also means no mess, apart from the perlite which can make the area look like it's just snowed and it also gets very sticky when wet.

The pot and plant is then placed into a pot saucer tall enough for quite a bit of nutrient solution(Water and Nutrients) to sit in, the nutrients are then used to water the plant as you would water a normal plant in a pot so that the nutrients flow through the medium into the saucer at the bottom. This process will probably only need to be done every few days when the plant is small but might need to be done once or maybe twice a day if it's warm weather or the plant is growing large and using lot's of nutrients.

I will be growing quite a bit with this system this year (2006) and will keep my web site updated with photos and any progress so keep checking back.

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Aeroponic Systems For quite a while it has been agreed by experts that a properly working aeroponic system is pretty much the most effective way of growing plants without soil. The way an aeroponic system works is by supplying the root zone of the plants with a fine mist of liquid nutrients rather than just a continuous flow of liquid, this not only fulfills the plants nutrients needs but also gives the plant a large amount of oxygen within the nutrients which is an ideal situation to be in.

The fine mist in a small system can be supplied by a spinning nozzle which is simply attached to a standard hydroponic nutrient pump outlet within a nutrient container. The plants are then suspended in baskets or just loose above the mist so that the roots dangle into the nutrient spray.

One of the good things about a small system like this is that you can easily see all the fast root growth as it happens by carefully lifting the plants out of the nutrient mist.

The biggest problem with an aeroponic system is the upkeep necessary to keep the fine mist system working correctly. For example blocked nozzles will instantly stop the system from working correctly and starve the plants of the necessary oxygen and nutrients they need.

Aeroponic systems are currently in the early days of development and I'm not sure at the moment whether these systems will prove reliable enough for continuous use, but I am going to give one a go this year (2006) by trialling an aeroponic propagator I have purchased. Early results are very very encouraging, please keep visiting my 2006 web pages for photos.

Also if you would like to see a large scale aeroponic system in action you might like to take a trip to Epcot at Walt Disney World in Florida, In the Land area of the park you can see a large scale system in action for yourself which supplies food to all the Hotels and Restaurants around the Walt Disney resort. If your not planning a visit soon though have a look at my Out and About Gallery where you can find some photo's I have taken from a previous visit there, There are also photo's of the other systems they have there such as NFT systems etc.

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NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) This method is the simplest of all ways of growing hydroponically and is the one I use most in my own growing. This system involves allowing a shallow film of nutrient solution (This is Water with nutrients added) to flow past the roots of your plants. The solution is usually pumped from a holding tank to the end of channels where it then flows over the roots before falling back into the holding tank. This process is usually run continuously throughout the day, It is not usually necessary to run the process through the night.

A setup like the one shown above can be made more advanced by adding an automatic topup system, This will allow the Holding tank to fill itself up automatically when it starts to go empty.
An examply of this can be seen on my Greenhouse pages, Where one of my greenhouses is fitted with a automatic topup system from a pre-filled water butt.

A Spreader matt is usually placed on the channel floor to allow an equal distribution of nutrients across the floor of the channel.

Plants can be placed into the channel at any state of growth as long as a good healthy roots are present, If they are the plant can simply be placed into the channel's flow of nutrients.

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Dripper Feed systems The dripper feed system or drip irrigation system makes it easy to treat each plant individually with regards to the amount of nutrient solution each receives. The nutrient solution is pumped up from the holding tank along pipes to drippers, These hang over the plants or are inserted into plant pots or blocks of rockwool as in the animation opposite. The dripper itself is fitted to limit the flow from the pipe to the plant to just a mere drip. The plant will take what it needs and any excess solution is allowed to drain back into the holding tank ready for re-use. Like the NFT system it is not necessary to run the pump throughout the night.

I have tried this system out myself during the 2002 season and although it worked succesfully I am now using the tank and pump for a plain NFT setup. Partly because I didn't see any increase in production over growing with the NFT Method and Partly because of the extra work necessary in setting the system up and keeping it working (ie. the drippers kept getting blocked for me).

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Water culture system In water culture systems the plants are placed such that their leaves are bathed in the nutrient solution within the holding tank. In a floating ( sometimes called a 'Raceway system') like the one opposite the nutrient holding tank is actually the growing bed. The plants themselves are placed into holes on floating styrofoam boards with their roots dangling into the nutrient solution. The solution itself rather than being pumped around as in the other systems, Is oxygenated and moved around the plant roots by an aquarium type air pump attached to a perforated tube at the bottom of the holding tank, Which continuously blows air bubbles into the nutrient solution. Plants which seem to enjoy living in this system are leafy plants such as Luttuce, Spinach, Chard etc. Unlike the other systems here the pump must be run continously to oxygenate the nutrients.

I am regularly using this system each year now successfully along side my main hydroponics systems to grow batches of lettuces. To see what my water culture system looks like have a look at the Greenhouse No 2 page.

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Ebb & Flood systems This method is more complicated, It is also a system which I have not tried for real yet. But I've detailed it here for completeness. It involves flooding your plant table with nutrient solution for a set time. The nutrient solution is then allowed to Ebb away back into the holding tank. Now a delay occurs and the routine begins again. This system requires more equipment than NFT, Including a Timer and something to allow the Ebb to occur. This system is sometimes used where a more decorative system is needed, As pebbles can be placed between the plants on the table.

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To have a look at our first greenhouse Click Here

source:http://nft.ellams.com/methods.htm