Chicken run to chicken tractor

[RickP]

Hello,

I am new to the group so thanks for letting me join. We have a small flock with 3 adult hens and 8 chicks (now). We recently lost 3 other hens to coyotes and the one hen that was raising the 8 chicks got killed by a huge raven yesterday. We are tired of predators killing our chickens so we want to quit free ranging them. We currently have a stationary 10x20 enclosed run with a coop inside. It will be to small to keep all the chickens in there once the chicks grow up. I wasn't worried about the size until now that we are talking about not letting them free range. We want to build a 10x20 chicken tractor so we can move the flock around the yard. When doing this, are we supposed to move the hens from the tractor to the stationary coop every night?

 

[Mrs. K]

Well I would not worry about that, they will naturally return to the coop. But one would need to let them out of the tractor near dark to do so. The trick would be to get them into the tractor in the morning. I think that will be a scramble, and kind of hard to do it.

I think (my opinion) is that tractors are one of those ideas that sound good, but really are like an exercise machine, they tend to sit there. The thing is to make them predator proof - well they are heavy and awkward. Just my two cents.

I think it would be better to make a larger run, add a lot of clutter to it, and let your birds out to 'free range' once in a while. Predators are opportunists. If they get a free and easy meal, they will be back. If they can't get a meal, they move on. So I do let mine free range occasionally, just not every day, not at the same time all the time.

Predators suck, and they always take your favorites.

Mrs K

 

[RickP]

Thank you.

 

[WingItRanch]

I agree with Mrs. K. I didn't want to free range at first and used a chicken tractor. I would "dock" my tractor up to the coop door and open both and they would all file in to the tractor. Then I will drag the tractor somewhere shaded. The problem is... tractors are typically heavy. And you run out of places that are green close by so you'd end up moving them further and further away from the coop. And then drag it back to the coop at dusk.

I ended up parking the tractor and turning it into a grow-out pen / chicken hospital. I let mine free range for a couple hours before dusk.

I think you'd have better luck expanding your coop and run to fit everyone comfortably and make it predator-proof as possible. Then worry/stress free. The chickens will adjust.