Anyone use a 'tractor' for daytime only?

[Cetawin]

I have a 4 x 4 tractor that 6 of my girls go out during the day. The morning they are in the full sun, midday I move them to the shade and late afternoon they go to a sunny area again. They love it!

 

[mudhen]

cajunlizz, sounds like we both do exactly the same. The tractor is going to be used for faux-free-ranging

as an extra treat.

go-veggie, thanks! Sounds like I am on the right track. The tractor does have a side door for my access, and a smaller end door that will lift out of the way so the girls can run back into their yard and the end of the day. It's true, the Omega 3 levels rise with free-ranging. I also have a bit of that in their feed mix. Best is that it does lower the cholesterol level in the eggs as well! Even though I'm too uptight to keep them out all night in it, the tractor does have a mini coop area and nesting boxes. Do you have a picture you can post of yours? As soon as I finish mine I will post one. Thanks again!

risurocket, love the chicken tunnel idea!!

While my neighbors wouldn't mind roaming hens, I just don't want to risk them to all the dangers. We have a couple of hawks, spotted an eagle a couple of months ago, and the assorted foxes, racoons, possums, all just waiting for some chicken to cross their path, (hence our own Fort Knox run and coop!

I've realized they follow me wherever I go, so I'm beginning to feel confident about leading them into the tractor. We'll see. Thank you for the encouragement!

Cetawin, sounds like you have happy girls too! Can't wait to get mine out there, I'm sure they're gonna love it too!

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
NO , I have not taken pictures of mine yet , but i have found a picture of coop and run very simular to mine , except mine is larger , so I will post below ..... Will give you an idea of what mine looks like : and we are fixing to add onto the size again , so total run area once completed will be 20 x32 .... We are adding on again because of our lil silkie bantams ... they run area will be attached to the right side of this run , but actually separated from the main flock . I DO NOT want the silkies HURT

 

[go-veggie]

Quote:
Ok, I have pictures of our current tractor from when we first built it, or added it on to the hutch anyway, a little over a month ago. I can't wait to see your finished coop/tractor. We will be starting the new one in the next couple weeks and I'll post pictures then. Oh, and I'll add the picture of the spring loaded hooks we used for the roof too. The coop in these pictures is from Fleet Farm in WI, and we added the run on ourselves. With our next tractor/coop combo, we will be making the coop part bigger and building it from scratch. Have a great night!

 

[birdy_num_nums]

I haven't yet but intend to. I'm going to build a deer netting and pvc pipe day tractor 3x5x7 and when I'm outside working in the garden or something I'll pull out a hen or 3 from the coop or run to spend some fun time as a treat in the tractor. I'll have a small waterer in there with them, also maybe a small nesting box. It will NOT be predator proof, so will only be in use with direct supervision.

 

[mudhen]

go-veggie, that is really nice! I like that hutch on the end for a mini coop!

birdy_num_nums, your avatar is just too funny!

Well, today the weather is just perfect to go finish my tractor, hopefully I'll post pics tonight!

 

[cajunlizz]

Yes , I love the little chicken Coop / hutch at the end of the chicken run . So cute ....