What is a chicken tractor? How do they work? Is this some kind of a service 
with a guy in a chicken costume who rides a John Deer Tractor??
Well, kind of, but no. A chicken tractor is a standing object, it can be rectangular in shape, or many designers prefer a triangular shape. A chicken tractor may or may not have wheels for ease of transportation around a lot, but is usually lightweight and easily transportable from one area to the next.
Chicken tractors have been used by farmers for years. A significant purpose of the chicken tractor is to place one’s chickens or other animals which enjoy scratching up the top layer of soil/grass/etc. while eating bugs, fertilizing the grass (by pooping) and enjoying the great outdoors in a controlled environment. Chicken tractors are great because if a particular area of one’s garden or lawn is in need of repair, chicken tractors allow chickens to remain in a controlled to semi-controlled environment, where they, just by being who they are, fertilize, “till”, and begin to repair the areas to which the Chicken Tractors are placed.
I’m sure you are wondering, what do chicken tractors look like?! Check out these photos and enjoy!
Row of Chicken Tractors 
Triangular Design (No Wheels) 
Rectangular Design with Wheels 
Semi-Circle Design With Wheels
A simple google image search will yield a plethora of results for various designs of chicken tractors. These helpful multifunctional tools are one of the many that fill a farmer’s or backyard gardener’s toolbox.
Right now, Self-Reliance is raffling off a chicken tractor (drawing to be held September 29). 
This year’s chicken tractor was a design and build challenge for our summer interns. Come on down and see the tractor and buy a raffle ticket! We are at the Falmouth Farmers Market on Thursday afternoons from noon to six pm. Otherwise, feel free to stop by the office at 1396 Route 28A, Cataumet, Monday – Friday 9 am to 4 pm to check it out!
If you are seeking a video for ideas on building your own, check out this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jBVWl2v7KA OR simply plug in DIY Chicken Tractor into the YouTube search bar and happy viewing!