Chicken tractor, pen, or coop?

[aart]

Or maybe I should ask what size tractor is too big?

It depends on how you're going to move it.
They get heavy fast.
If you have a vehicle to move it, that makes for a whole different story.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

It depends on how you're going to move it.
They get heavy fast.
If you have a vehicle to move it, that makes for a whole different story.

Completely true. I've had about 15 birds in a John Suscovich chicken tractor (they only slept in there) I let them out to "free range" within an electric fence. Depend on how much roosting space you have. It all depends on one thing or another.

Got the image off google. These are Suscovich tractors. They are meant for meat birds, but they can be changed to fit layers/pets.

 

[aart]

It all depends on one thing or another.

Yep, it's a catch22.
Planning out where to move those tractors can be an issue too,
might be different with layers than with meaties, but still.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Uneven ground can let nasty things in to eat or maim the birds too.

 

[LunaMarieWolf]

Tractors CAN resist predators including dogs but must be built to do so. That makes them much heavier. Every time you move them you will have to secure an anti-social apron or make sure you have solar powered electric wire functioning.

My personal preference when dogs can be in contact with the coop or run or tractor is to go with a stationary coop and run.

People drop off their dogs at the high way and the dogs soon look for a snack (my chickens). We've even had packs of dogs take out baby calves. Its getting to be a problem but once we move down there the dogs are not going to be messing around us.

I am not going to lock my chickens in the tractor at night, they are going to go in the secure coop, but I don't think many predators will come so close to the house during the daytime.

 

[LunaMarieWolf]

It depends on how you're going to move it.
They get heavy fast.
If you have a vehicle to move it, that makes for a whole different story.

I have a tractor we use for moving hay and metal cow feeders/hay pens. I am sure we can put wheels on the sides to make it easier to roll.

 

[21hens-incharge]

People drop off their dogs at the high way and the dogs soon look for a snack (my chickens). We've even had packs of dogs take out baby calves. Its getting to be a problem but once we move down there the dogs are not going to be messing around us.

I am not going to lock my chickens in the tractor at night, they are going to go in the secure coop, but I don't think many predators will come so close to the house during the daytime.

Ahhh I see. It is random dogs not your own that are an issue.

I am not so sure predators won't be around during the day. I am well within city limits in an older subdivision. I see fox and hawks often here. For me to see them they are coming through in the day. There are times my birds are freaking out and I run out to find fox inside my 6' fence harassing them.

Protect them the best you can.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

I have a tractor we use for moving hay and metal cow feeders/hay pens. I am sure we can put wheels on the sides to make it easier to roll.

Suscovich chicken tractors have wheels on them.