Chicken Tractor Help

[Fireman1317]

We are panning on building our first chicken tractor soon. I found all kind of great ideas on the web, but it seems that no one ever mentions roosting bars. Are they not needed in a chicken tractor? Thanks

 

[Dayrel]

I'd recommend having one. My girls spend a fair amount of time on theirs, so they obviously like it. I understand that many designs, particularly the triangular chicken tractors, really don't have the shape/size to support it.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Dimensions and proposed usage will help people know what's needed.

 

[Fireman1317]

Dimensions and proposed usage will help people know what's needed.

Sorry. This first tractor will be for laying hens and will be 6ft x 10ft. Will sort of look like a greenhouse made from cattle panels.

 

[PirateGirl]

If your chicken tractor is for grazing/foraging during the day only and they have a separate coop for night, roost bars aren't necessary. If the tractor is their full time 24/7 home, give them a roost bar.

 

[Fireman1317]

If your chicken tractor is for grazing/foraging during the day only and they have a separate coop for night, roost bars aren't necessary. If the tractor is their full time 24/7 home, give them a roost bar.

It will be their full time home, so my gut feeling was the need for roost bars, just had not seen anyone include them in their builds.

 

[Fireman1317]

Also, roost bars should be higher than the laying boxes. Correct?

 

[Dayrel]

That is important in the coop area to encourage them to sleep on the roost bars rather than the nests.

In the run area, the roost just needs to be high enough for them to feel safely off the ground. Also, if you keep it above their heads when walking, they don't lose any floor space in the run. 2' up is a pretty good height as an example. It allows them to easily/safely jump up and down to the roost bar while allowing full floor space.

 

[kwhites634]

We are panning on building our first chicken tractor soon. I found all kind of great ideas on the web, but it seems that no one ever mentions roosting bars. Are they not needed in a chicken tractor? Thanks

They're not actually "needed", like they're not "needed" in a coop, but they're more natural for the birds, who instinctively roost up off the ground, given the option, for protection.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

Sorry. This first tractor will be for laying hens and will be 6ft x 10ft. Will sort of look like a greenhouse made from cattle panels.

So a hoop coop?
Do you have a vehicle to move it?
Tons of examples here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/18945202/?q=hoop+coop&o=relevance&c[title_only]=1

Also, roost bars should be higher than the laying boxes. Correct?

Correct.