A-frame or Joel Salatin tractor coop

[ChristineJaxlin]

Hi! I am making a tractor coop this weekend I bought material to make an A-frame with a raised coop with nesting boxes with a hinge that can be accessed from the outside. It’s going to be 6ft by 8ft the height is about 5ft so I will be able to go inside. My best friend is also making a tractor coop she is doing the Joel Salatin style tractor coop. I’m wondering if anyone has a reason or opinion on which is style is better A-frame or the Joel Salatin style? I’m interested in pros and cons of each style!? Our goal is to make the land permaculture.

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC. Where, in general, are you? Climate matters, especially when it comes to housing.

Is this for layers or meaties? And for how many birds?

The original Salatin tractor is specifically designed for the needs of pastured meat birds and doesn't really meet the needs of backyard layers. It's been a good while since I read his book and I *think* he does have a layer variation, but both his tractors are part of a fully-integrated system with other livestock and their size and weight require the availability of powered machinery to move them.

Some homesteaders have, I believe, adapted the Salatin meatie tractor for smaller batches and lighter weight though and had good success with them.

A-frames, are, alas, one of those things that sound great in theory but fall down in practice.

Because they have to be roofed all the way to the ground they're very difficult to ventilate. Because the roof/walls slant, the space at the point where it is too narrow for a chicken to exist comfortably and the spaces at the base of the wall under the slope where a chicken cannot stand are walk are essentially wasted.

For many people a hoop coop, stationary or tractor-style, is the best option for ease of construction and light weight.

Here are some good hoop tractor options:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-tractor.69336/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-coop-brooder-with-roll-up-sides.75720/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-biddie-bordello-a-hoop-coop-run-combo.72189/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/permanent-hoop-coop-guide.47818/

 

[arizona_chicken_noob]

I did not end up doing a chicken tractor but I learned some valuable information here on BYC the other day regarding them.

Chickens like to roost above the ground, and so the Salatin style might only be appropriate for young birds OR meat birds who are killed early. Assuming this is the right design:

(taken from image search) the adult laying birds will not be able to roost in a "tree" as they would like to do.

edit: I should have mentioned, if the birds are living in this at night.

 

[Rangergord]

An A frame tractor did not work out for me but that doesn’t mean they are always a bad idea. How we think we will manage our flock does not always turn out as we imagine. My ideal tractor only became a reality after the first season in my garden.
There is always a trade off between the space required for a certain number of chickens and the size and weight of the tractor. Many people build a big tractor to hold all their birds and find it too big and heavy to move very often, defeating the purpose.

 

[TheFatBlueCat]

You could try looking at the Justin Rhodes chickshaw. There are two sizes, the standard one and the mini one. I considered building one of these but ended up going with something more traditional in the end. I will probably get some of the chickshaws made up for me in future when I have more flocks.

We had an A frame coop when I was a kid and it was good. It was only big enough for about 5 hens, but we could haul it around if needed. It was a 2 person job though! I don't think we gave much thought to ventilation in those days however.