Cant free range, i need ideas

[Th3moth3rcluck3r]

So, we have a lot of red tail hawks and I have already lost one chick to a hawk. My girls are about 8/9wks old now, out in a coop, and in a run. They've demolished their grass in the run, but im thinking of building something to move around the yard so they don't seem so bored with just the ones space. I'd rotate them out through the day, they would have access to water and shade. But it would be short, and about 4x6 cube. I'd line it with hardware cloth, but I want them to have access to bugs and fresh grass. Free ranging isn't an option. I live on half an acre, no fence, and a ton of predators. Does anyone else do this?

 

[Krugerrand]

So, we have a lot of red tail hawks and I have already lost one chick to a hawk. My girls are about 8/9wks old now, out in a coop, and in a run. They've demolished their grass in the run, but im thinking of building something to move around the yard so they don't seem so bored with just the ones space. I'd rotate them out through the day, they would have access to water and shade. But it would be short, and about 4x6 cube. I'd line it with hardware cloth, but I want them to have access to bugs and fresh grass. Free ranging isn't an option. I live on half an acre, no fence, and a ton of predators. Does anyone else do this?

Can you provide pictures of your setup? Many of us our visual thinkers.

 

[GlicksChicks]

That is basically a chicken tractor and it is a very useful thing for giving them fresh grass.

Look into grazing boxes. You can put those over some grass in a chicken run and they will be unable to kill off the grass, but they will have access to the grass as it grows.

 

[MommyGirl]

For me I added a pen that’s connected to my regular chicken run and I only let them in there to eat grass and bugs a couple of times a week only for a couple of hours at a time so they don’t kill all the grass

 

[Th3moth3rcluck3r]

That is basically a chicken tractor and it is a very useful thing for giving them fresh grass.

Look into grazing boxes. You can put those over some grass in a chicken run and they will be unable to kill off the grass, but they will have access to the grass as it grows.

I may just build a grazing box. I have the stuff to do it. Just gotta make it happen.

 

[wrathsfarm]

There's a bunch of tractor coop ideas here...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/tractor-coops.17/

 

[McChooky]

A dependable long term solution for you would be training a dog or two .Hanging netting prevent birds of prey from diving and grabbing one . Hanging netting over the sides does the same

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Here's a picture of my chicken tractor, if that helps...

I didn't pick the color, but for the price I paid, I'll learn to love pink.

 

[McChooky]

So, we have a lot of red tail hawks and I have already lost one chick to a hawk. My girls are about 8/9wks old now, out in a coop, and in a run. They've demolished their grass in the run, but im thinking of building something to move around the yard so they don't seem so bored with just the ones space. I'd rotate them out through the day, they would have access to water and shade. But it would be short, and about 4x6 cube. I'd line it with hardware cloth, but I want them to have access to bugs and fresh grass. Free ranging isn't an option. I live on half an acre, no fence, and a ton of predators. Does anyone else do this?

Poultry fencing around a chicken tractor if you have no fencing

 

[paintedChix]

Different types of chicken tractors.

Tractors

Be aware - the pvc tractor was made by our daughter originally for rabbits. It's too tall - can't easily access to care for critters. The lid is one solid piece. Too large - difficult to open & too heavy. PVC frame broke. Plan - to cut it in 1/2 height wise & build 2 new lids by putting a bar in the middle. Then can do 1 or 2 door frames on it.

The a-frame - for chicks your size/age needs to have 1/2" HWC attached.

The puppy x-pen combined w/ a rabbit cage needs frame bottom. More weight, more protection and easier to move.