A few questions about tractors

[AlexKilpatrick]

I am getting ready for my first coop, and I have a couple of choices.

1) An area which could support a large coop and run, all under heavy shade (I'm in Texas). Grass does not grow in this area at all.
2) A chicken tractor, which could roam over an area of about 1/3 acre (st augustine grass)

The idea of a tractor is attractive because it would allow the chickens to eat more natural food. However, I am worried about how much they will destroy the yard. If I move it twice a week, will the grass still be ok? I don't really want to move it more often than that.

How do you move a tractor? Do you just scoot it along the ground and the chickens come with it? How do you move the food and water?

Thanks!

 

[patandchickens]

The idea of a tractor is attractive because it would allow the chickens to eat more natural food. However, I am worried about how much they will destroy the yard. If I move it twice a week, will the grass still be ok? I don't really want to move it more often than that.

I do not know about TX and St Augustine grass... but I can tell you that in Ontario on very good moist grass-growing soil with healthy thick mostly-fescue turf, I had to move my 4x7 3-chicken tractor *daily* in order to keep its impact minimal, and evne then it would leave a pretty obvious trail behind it of "chickened" areas, maybe 10 days' worth in most weather. Mind you there was certainly still grass left when I'd move the tractor at the end of the day but it would be a lot less and shorter, heavily pooed on, and often with some shallow dusting holes dug in it. Hard for me to believe that turf would be more resiliant in TX, probably less so.

How do you move a tractor? Do you just scoot it along the ground and the chickens come with it?

Yup, generally. Some people shut them up in the floored "house" portion, most people just mvoe the tractor carefully with the chickens walking along inside, they learn pretty quick.

How do you move the food and water?

The food can generally stay in; if you are moving a long way or over bumpy ground, or your waterer is very spilly, you can remove it and then put it back in when the tractor gets where it's going.

1) An area which could support a large coop and run, all under heavy shade (I'm in Texas). Grass does not grow in this area at all.

Frankly that sounds like your most practical plan -- and you could make a "day tractor" to go along with it so that in NICE (i.e. not too hot) weather you could let the chickens have some grass during the day. Chickens really do not deal well with heat, they need lots of SHADE in a TX summer (and sometimes TX spring and fall as well LOL). This is easier to provide in a fixed coop. A fixed coop can also be significantly bigger and more predatorproof. Then if you want them to have access to lawn, on suitable days you can pop them into a portable pen to enjoy some grass for a while, then put them back in the coop before nighttime.

GOod luck, have fun,

Pat​

 

[AlexKilpatrick]

Frankly that sounds like your most practical plan -- and you could make a "day tractor" to go along with it so that in NICE (i.e. not too hot) weather you could let the chickens have some grass during the day. Chickens really do not deal well with heat, they need lots of SHADE in a TX summer (and sometimes TX spring and fall as well LOL). This is easier to provide in a fixed coop. A fixed coop can also be significantly bigger and more predatorproof. Then if you want them to have access to lawn, on suitable days you can pop them into a portable pen to enjoy some grass for a while, then put them back in the coop before nighttime.

Thanks! That sounds like a good plan. There are areas with scrubby grass that I don't mind over-grazing. I could definitely let them run around on that part of the time in order to get some variety in their diet. Sounds like the best of both worlds.​

 

[wayneh]

wish I had built mine on an old trailer. it turned out a little heaver than thought.