- Dec 7, 2011
- 2,317
- 245
- 231
The pre built ones you see all over the internet (ware makes one for example) are nearly all junk and way overpriced. In the pictures they look much bigger than they actually are and they way over estimate the number of chickens they will hold. Most are not weatherproof (i.e. watertight) and will need to be refinished before the first summer is over. They also almost universally have cheap hardware and very thin wood. Unless you make it yourself and way over engineer it a tractor is going to require a lot of maintenance and fixing. Its hard on a rigid structure to be moved around. Also most that you buy are going to have the same problems as regular "coops" you buy. And they tend not to have a floor which makes them a hazard for the chickens.
Even if you aren't very handy, the best bet is to look on craigslist and get either a used chicken coop or shed and make the changes you want. Just keep in mind that chicken wire isn't predator proof at all. If you put effort into making your coop and run predator proof and as big as you can, then leaving them in it when you are away won't be a problem. Make the coop easy to access to clean.
Even if you aren't very handy, the best bet is to look on craigslist and get either a used chicken coop or shed and make the changes you want. Just keep in mind that chicken wire isn't predator proof at all. If you put effort into making your coop and run predator proof and as big as you can, then leaving them in it when you are away won't be a problem. Make the coop easy to access to clean.