Almost finished with our Chicken Tractor

[RonC]

Lookin good Hamiam, Leah's Mom yours is nice too. I live in Texas too and have never had mine stay in the coop all day. There were outside when it was 17 degrees. I've seen them out with several inches of snow on the ground too.

 

[Hamiam]

Lookin good Hamiam, Leah's Mom yours is nice too. I live in Texas too and have never had mine stay in the coop all day. There were outside when it was 17 degrees. I've seen them out with several inches of snow on the ground too.

Thanks RonC. Growing up in Louisiana, our chickens were always in a coop. As an adult, I became more interested in animal quality of life & free ranging was very important to me. My chickens have only been locked in the coop at night. However, as I get my tractor fine tuned & predator proof their run, I have kept them in the coop more than I like. Soon they will only be locked up dusk till dawn.

 

[RonC]

My coop is really a place for them to sleep and lay eggs now. Originally it was almost twice the size it is now. They do have an fenced/covered run for them during the day. Already getting into the 90's here so thinking about taking the front off the coop and leave it open for more ventilation for them. I've got two dogs to patrol outside the run so not much worried about predators.

 

[Trish1974]

@Leahs Mom how do you keep the rain from bogging down the tarp that is attached to the step in posts? Between wind and rain I'm on my 3rd tarp in 3 months and mine are angled to where the rain is SUPPOSED to run off!

 

[Leahs Mom]

The one in the garden is only temporary so I don't have to worry about it long term.

The ones in the run were at a very steep angle - from the roof of the shed to about 2 ft. above ground, bungied to the chain link kennel pen at the low end and attached with stationary clips onto eye hooks at the top.

So...on the garden I just go out and adjust them now and then since the step in posts tend to move some after rain anyhow.

if I were going to make that stationary, I'd try to attach one side to something stable like a fence top, railing, building, etc., then likely use something more stable on the low end...say a tent stake or something similar that I could hammer into the ground more deeply. I'd have them several inches away from where the tarp is and still attach with bungies.

 

[Hamiam]

My husband finished adding the nesting box to our chicken tractor. Because it is made of metal, my husband wanted to make sure there was ventilation. It is 19" tall, 20" deep & 36" wide. He is making wooden panels to insert inside during the winter to make it warm. This tractor is so different than the one we made in the past. Even though the pullets are full grown now, I still put linoleum pieces over the stock mat on the floor, removing them daily to wash them off, then place back after they dry.(out drying when pics were taken) I'm just not sure about the chickens walking on the metal floor.... I'm worried about feet or toe injuries. I've put hay in the nesting box but may still put a piece of linoleum over the metal floor of it. But my husband thinking airflow is a good thing as our temps have been over 100 degrees most days. The chickens are only inside the tractor dusk till dawn & only in the run when no one is at home to watch them in the 4 acre yard. These pullets should start laying any day now. Because in the past our nesting boxes have always been smaller & darker, I'm concerned the hens may not use this one. Any thoughts?

 

[Hamiam]

@eggbert420 @aart @ddschicks @RonC @Leahs Mom @21hens-incharge .... What do you think about the nesting box?

 

[Hamiam]

I added the new nesting box pics to my old post but I'm unsure anyone can see. Hope to hear feedback on our design.

 

[aart]

Sorry, must have missed the tag alert.

I'd put a solid bottom in the nests,
and a front lip 4-6" high to keep nest bedding in place,
ventilation at top of nests should be enough.

Could not imagine pulling out and washing coop flooring every.single.day.....
....just put some pine shavings in there.

The expanded metal could indeed cause foot/toe injuries when they are scratching around.

 

[Hamiam]

Tha

Sorry, must have missed the tag alert.

I'd put a solid bottom in the nests,
and a front lip 4-6" high to keep nest bedding in place,
ventilation at top of nests should be enough.

Could not imagine pulling out and washing coop flooring every.single.day.....
....just put some pine shavings in there.

The expanded metal could indeed cause foot/toe injuries when they are scratching around.

Thanks @aart. It's really not difficult to rinse off the linoleum pieces. I originally was pulling out the livestock mats. That was extremely difficult! This goat trailer conversion has been a disappointment. Still finding things I need to improve on. I don't use wood shavings because they get between the metal sides of the trailer & the hardware cloth we attached. I may have convinced my husband to build a new barn. I hope to make a section just for chickens. It will be easier to use the barn in the winter & the tractor in the summer. An expensive endeavor but needed now that the old horse pole barn is deteriorating. I like your idea about a front lip on the nesting box & I also want to put in a bottom (husband has to be convinced). Picture is Buttercup. She also said "Thanks!"