How To Attach Wheels To A Chicken Tractor – A Simple Solution

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

Is this a complicated job? Nope, not really. There are more complicated ways of adding wheels that can be adjusted up or down which are great. 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 yard where your coop just HAS to be, that’s great. You probably won’t need wheels on it since you’ve already planned out it’s positioning. But we’ll take a look at a few reasons why wheels can be a great addition to any coop.

Mobility

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

Types of Wheels

There are MANY wheel options that can be used for your coop or run. We discuss many of them in this article. But we’ll list a few of the most common types of wheels used for chicken tractors here.

Pneumatic Tires

These are a very common type of wheel. It’s the type of wheel that is hollow inside and needs to be aired up. They can have tubes or simply be tubeless.

Solid Rubber Flat Free Tires

These tires contain solid rubber all the way through. No airing up tires! Although they cost more than pneumatic, they are nearly maintenance free once installed.

It’s a favorite type of wheel we use for lawn mowers, hand trucks, wheel barrows, and the like.

Bike Tires

We’ve seen bike tires on chicken coops too! These are easy to find at thrift stores if you’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’s a will there’s a way!

Lawn Mower Tires

The type of lawnmower wheel pictured above is easy to find at hardware stores, thrift stores, garage sales, or online. Simple and easy to install, and no airing up!

More on types of wheels that can be used for chicken coops or tractors can be found in this article

Size Of Wheels

As for the correct size of wheel to use, it’s important not to pick too small of a wheel or the weight of the coop will not allow it to move freely.

If you have small coop, a smaller wheel will work just fine. As a general rule of thumb, we suggest a wheel at least six inches or larger.

For a large coop, a larger wheel size will be needed. Large chicken tractors, the kind that are pulled by a tractor, use car tires or similar size! See picture below. But for the average small coop, anything from 6 to 12 inches in diameter should work nicely.

Tips And Tidbits

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

When completed the coop will set around 1/2 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 break into your coop or run, you may need to consider a different set up. Since the coop is elevated slightly, it leaves an opening (ableit a narrow one) for any would-be predator to try and get in.

Although it’s only elevated an inch or less, it could provide enough of an opening to reach a paw in or lift the coop high enough to crawl in. It may not be the most likely scenario but some predators are very clever!

Some mobile coops have wheels or axles that can be adjusted up or down. This is great because the run lays flat on the ground when stationary but can be moved up when wanting to move it. An example of this type of mobile coop is the Eglu Cube.

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

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OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

For this post, we’ll assume the bolt size is a standard 5/8 bolt but it can vary in diameter depending on the size of the bore of the wheels chosen for your run.

If you’re using a lawn mower wheel, you can buy shoulder bolts (see pic below). These are great but will cost a bit more than a standard bolt. However, they’re a wonderful option for this type of wheel.

The bolts need to match the size of the bore, or center hole in the metal or plastic hub. See photo below. Measure with a tape measure and head to the hardware store to get the correct size bolts, washers, and nuts. Or simply take a wheel to the store to find the best fit.

Note: Bores may have bushings or bearings in them, depending on the type of wheel. Since a mobile coop will not be moved very far, it’s not crucial to have a wheel with these components as there isn’t a lot of ‘wear and tear’ on the wheel set up. As long as 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:

• Two wheels of your choice.
• Two 5/8 inch bolts. The length should be 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.
• Four 5/8 inch washers (2 for each side) ; Washers should match the bolt size.
• Two 5/8 nuts (one for each side) ; Nuts should match bolt size.

Tools:

• Drill
• Drill bit (for wood) to match size of bore. A smidge larger than the bore is ok, but not smaller since you 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 don’t have a tool set, a crescent wrench will work fine (see pic 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 flat surface. Then elevate the run end of the coop 1/2 to 1 inch off the ground with a piece or two of scrap wood. A left over 3/4 inch piece of scrap wood should work nicely.

2. Once propped up, set the wheel against the lower outside corner frame where you want to place the wheel. Since the coop is propped up, the wheel will already be at the correct height.

3. Take a pencil, slide it into the bore and make a mark on the frame.

4. Pull the wheel away and measure the center of the frame with a tape measure or carpenter square and mark it.

5. Then place your drill bit on the mark and begin drilling until you’re all the way through.

For estimating size of bit needed, HomeAdvisor figures 1/64 larger than the bolt size. When we drill, we first try a bit that matches the bolt size exactly. If it’s too tight of a fit, we try the next bit size up.

The standard length of drill bits is usually 4 1/2 inches long, which should be long enough if drilling through two 2×2 framing boards. If you are using thicker lumber, you can find (or buy) bits that are several inches long.

CAUTION: Be careful not to let the bit scrape against the inside of the bore too much since you don’t want to damage the hub or your bit!

Now you’re ready to bolt the wheel on!

6. Line the wheel up 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 screw the nut on. Bolt should be an inch or so longer than the end of the bore, as in photo.

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

7. Tighten with a wrench.

With this set up if you tighten it too much, the wheel can bind and not spin very well. Simply tighten the nut a little bit tighter than you can do with your hand. Check to make sure the wheel can spin, but doesn’t have too much play.

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

8. 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 axle bolts may need occasional re-tightening from time to time.

That’s it. You just added wheels to your coop!

Here’s what it will look like with handles installed:

Final Thoughts

We hope you found this tutorial helpful. As you can see, it’s not the most 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 bind. But 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 chicken raising adventures! Happy Chickening.

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