Advice needed for coop/run add-on

[AliP]

Hi, all!

I'm not new to BYC but haven't posted for a while...

My question at the moment is this: we have a coop and run that can accomodate 12 hens easily. My concern is that they have the run down to dirt and I am reluctant to allow the girls to free-range. In the past we have had a record of losing hens and roos to predtopredators I'm looking at buliding a tractor of sorts that would allow them access to fresh grass/weeds/etc but would like to return them to their home coop in the evenings.

Everything I'm finding is a complete system with the coop and run being mobile.

Any and all thoughts would be hugely appreciated...I have a dozen chicks coming the week of April 1 (can't wait!) and would like to get something built to get them on the grass fairly shortly after they arrive.

Thank you all in advance!!
Alison

 

[Melky]

I think that would be fine but have to have a method of getting the tractor coop lined up to coop door so can move into it without running about free range and not going into the tractor coop. Don’t want to have to chase chickens and round them up.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What predators, ground based or flying? Of course it will depend on your layout, terrain, and such, but if it is ground based you could get electric netting and fence off a large area attached to your coop/run. It won't help with flying predators but some of us don't have much of an issue with those. I used this method.

How much netting you would need would depend on how many chickens, how well the turf is established, and your climate. My full-sized fowl baby chicks could walk through the netting until they were 7 to 8 weeks old, so there is that to consider.

If you might be interested in this approach let me know and I'll write up some details.

 

[AliP]

What predators, ground-based or flying? Of course, it will depend on your layout, terrain, and such, but if it is ground-based you could get electric netting and fence off a large area attached to your coop/run. It won't help with flying predators but some of us don't have much of an issue with those. I used this method.

How much netting you would need would depend on how many chickens, how well the turf is established, and your climate. My full-sized fowl baby chicks could walk through the netting until they were 7 to 8 weeks old, so there is that to consider.

If you might be interested in this approach let me know and I'll write up some details.

I think that would be fine but have to have a method of getting the tractor coop lined up to coop door so can move into it without running about free range and not going into the tractor coop. Don’t want to have to chase chickens and round them up.

We have land and air-based attacks, unfortunately. My thought at the moment is to have a wire "tunnel" for them to make it to an enclosure, "tractor-like" contraption that I could move from area to area with the 4-wheeler.

I feel like I'm making this more complicated than it needs to be, though.

 

[Alaskan]

I wouldn't bother moving them back to the main coop at night.

I would just make a tractor or hoop coop for summer use.

Then the run at the main coop can regrow grass all summer, put them in the big coop when winter sets in.

I have found that if you move the tractor every day or 3, the joy of all of those new bugs and grass means that they can be happy in a slightly smaller area. So a tractor, AS LONG AS YOU MOVE IT OFTEN, does not have to be as spacious as a coop.

 

[AliP]

My "perfect" solution would be something that I would be able to herd them into in the mornings and back into their coop in the evenings.

Thoughts? Or is this unreasonable?

 

[aart]

herd them

Makes think of 'herding cats'
You may be able to 'entice' them with food, in both directions.

 

[Alaskan]

Teaching them to come for treats when called should work.

 

[AliP]

Sometimes it feels like it! I had my last group trained to comes when I shook the treats!
Made me feel like the pied piper

 

[AliP]

OK, after some reading this weekend, I'm strongly considering a "chunnel" (chicken tunnel) set up. Thoughts? Advice?

Right now, it would have to be under all this !@#$%^& snow I am SO READY for spring!!