homestead.fyi / TRACTOR-25

25-Bird Hoop Tractor

A hoop tractor for 25 hens, 10 x 11 7/8 ft and 62 in tall, built from half cattle panels bent over a ground-level frame, wrapped in hardware cloth, with plywood ends and a front hatch.

Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.
25Birds
120 x 142 inFootprint
118 sq ftFloor
62 inHeight
3Panels
20 to 30 hrBuild time
$654.37Materials

Drawings All dimensions in inches

3D viewhardware cloth wrap; weather cover not shown
3D view
3D view, framecloth and end walls removed; panels drawn solid
3D view, frame
Front elevationhatch in the front end
Front elevation 120 in 65 3/4 in
Right elevation
Right elevation 142 in
Frame, from abovebase and hoops
Frame, from above 120 in 142 in

Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted

QtyStockLengthPartCut
22x245Hatch stile
22x230Hatch raillaid flat
12x4 PT142Base rail lefton edge
12x4 PT142Base rail righton edge
12x4 PT117Base end fronton edge
12x4 PT117Base end backon edge
12x4 PT117Base braceon edge

Cut list: sheet goods

PartStockSizeNote
Front end 11/2 ply40 x 58 5/8
Front end 21/2 ply40 x 62 1/4hatch is the cutout, re-hung
Front end 31/2 ply40 x 58 5/8
Back end 11/2 ply40 x 58 5/8
Back end 21/2 ply40 x 62 1/4
Back end 31/2 ply40 x 58 5/8
Vent screencloth26 x 0
Hoop wrap 1cloth30 x 196cut from the roll
Hoop wrap 2cloth30 x 196cut from the roll
Hoop wrap 3cloth30 x 196cut from the roll
Hoop wrap 4cloth30 x 196cut from the roll
Hoop wrap 5cloth30 x 196cut from the roll

Lumber cutting diagram Lengths chosen for the lowest cost; 1/8 in kerf, 1/2 in end trim

2x2 x 8 ft
Hatch stile 1 45Hatch stile 2 45
2x2 x 8 ft
Hatch rail 1 30Hatch rail 2 30
2x4 PT x 12 ft
Base rail left 142
2x4 PT x 12 ft
Base rail right 142
2x4 PT x 12 ft
Base end front 117
2x4 PT x 12 ft
Base end back 117
2x4 PT x 12 ft
Base brace 117

Sheet cutting diagrams Dashed = openings to cut out

Sheet 1: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Front end 240 x 62 1/4
Sheet 2: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Back end 240 x 62 1/4
Sheet 3: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Front end 140 x 58 5/8
Sheet 4: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Front end 340 x 58 5/8
Sheet 5: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Back end 140 x 58 5/8
Sheet 6: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Back end 340 x 58 5/8

Shopping list $654.37 checked / $0.00 estimated

ItemStoreQtyEachLineNote
2x2x8 furring stripHome Depot2$2.97$5.94see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x12 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot5$7.18$35.90see lumber cutting diagram
15/32 in (1/2 in) sheathing plywood, 4x8 sheetLowe's6$32.26$193.56see sheet cutting diagrams
Hardware cloth 1/2 in, 3 ft x 25 ft, 19-gaHome Depot4$38.88$155.52uses about 980 in of the roll
Cattle panel, 16 ft x 50 in, 4-gaugeTractor Supply3$37.99$113.97one per hoop
6 mil greenhouse film, 20 x 25 ftWalmart Business1$83.99$83.99weather cover for the back half
UV zip ties 11 in, 100 ct (also used for tie wire)Home Depot1$17.65$17.65ties for the panels and cloth
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 5 lb boxHome Depot1$29.97$29.97
Galvanized 6 in strap hinge, each (5-pack $32.99)Home Depot1$6.60$6.60hatch
Galvanized staple safety hasp, 3-1/2 inHome Depot1$6.78$6.78hatch
Poultry staples 3/4 in, 1 lbSouthern States1$4.49$4.49
Total before tax$654.37
Filled dot: price read from a store listing on Oct 20, 2026. Hollow dot: estimate. Prices come from the master price list, so they change when it changes.

Build steps

  1. Take 3 whole 16 ft cattle panels to the site. Do not cut them.
  2. Build the base from pressure-treated 2x4s on edge: two 142 in rails, and the front, back and middle cross pieces between them. Check square by measuring both diagonals.
  3. Bend each panel into a hoop 120 in across and 62 in tall, and screw its feet to the outside of the rails with fender washers. Set them side by side, overlapping about 4 in, and wire them together.
  4. Cut the end walls from the sheet layouts. Screw each to the end hoop and the base. Keep the hatch cutout in the front and re-hang it with a hasp.
  5. Frame the hatch with four 2x2s, staple cloth over it and hang it on strap hinges.
  6. Wrap the 5 strips of hardware cloth over the hoops from one rail to the other, overlapping each by 2 in, and tie them to the panels every 6 in with wire.
  7. Staple cloth over the vent in the back end from the inside.
  8. Cover the back half of the hoops with the plastic film or a tarp for shade and rain, held with wire ties.

Before you start