Building a chicken Tractor

[larsonll]

I have vinyl coated 2 x 4 wire under my tractor and the chickens have done fine with it. I was worried about their inability to scratch well, but they scratch in the small rectangles. They adapt. But I have to admit to the lure of a stationary coop that I'm planning with no wire floor on the run.

 

[GardenGal]

SuzQlou, good job on the lawn rotation! I had no plan and am just hoping our yard will bounce back this spring.

Regarding wire on the bottom of the tractor, unless your chickens free range they'll have no way to take dirt baths, and they just love them. I like the skirt idea.

 

[claudicles]

Skirts aren't very portable and I am in favour of moving my tractor often. The easier it is to move the better. I have wire but it is about the size and caliber of reinforcing wire for concrete, attached to the bottom of the tractor. I can still move it easily. If my girls are smart enough they actually perch on the wire when I move it. If you aren't planning on moving it often a skirt may be fine.

 

[cat1994]

I didn't put wire on the bottom of my chicken tractor. I wanted the hens to be able to get plenty of grass and be able to dust bath without wire getting in the way. I was worried about pests digging under to get to my birds so I attach a wire skirt around the run ir works great

 

[canesisters]

been trying to read this thread (and not get caught doing it) while at work - wanted to make sure I haven't missed something - or made assumptions that almost always get me in trouble later on.

A chicken tractor can be (and often is) used as a perminant home for a flock?
As long as the coop part is secure and follows the 'rules' for room per hen - and the girls are locked in at night, the floor of the run does not need wire - to protect from predators?

I had been trying to work out how and where I could build a perminant coop and not having much success.
I have a LARGE dog house, an unused lawnmower cart, lots of 2"x3" wire .... this is sounding promising

 

[claudicles]

A tractor is a great permanent home if not overstocked. I have two and I can't let my girls free range because of predators, foxes are even a daytime problem for me. By using and moving a tractor they get access to new green picking regularly and the fertilizer gets spread. Think of it as "weed and feed" on wheels. Or you can leave them in one place for a while then turn the spot into a vegie patch. "Mow and Grow". I keep meaning to make signs for my two tractors calling them excactly that.

 

[Heather118]

Quote:
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