Chicken tractor question

[Lori J]

I had a question about achicken tractor that is not attached to the coop. I had a hawk attack recently so I decided to try to make a chicken tractor to move the chickens around the yard in. My question is how do you get them from the coop to the chicken tractor and back every day? It seems like if you lift up the chicken tractor to grab one they would all scatter. Maybe I’m not understanding the design LOL.

 

[aart]

I had a question about achicken tractor that is not attached to the coop. I had a hawk attack recently so I decided to try to make a chicken tractor to move the chickens around the yard in. My question is how do you get them from the coop to the chicken tractor and back every day? It seems like if you lift up the chicken tractor to grab one they would all scatter. Maybe I’m not understanding the design LOL.

Put a door on the tractor....maybe up higher so they can't run out when you open it to toss another in?
Then do you lift it to let them to go back to the coop...would they?
How many birds do you have?

 

[rosemarythyme]

A door or a hatch on top (depending on how tall it is) is probably a better/easier option than lifting the entire unit.

Are your chickens trained to you at all? If they are, they're not going to just run away even if you do lift it.

 

[Lori J]

I have seven hens and I have found them to be very fast LOL and not excited about being picked up. The door of high as a good idea because yes they do tend to try to run out of anywhere you were trying to put them

 

[21hens-incharge]

Maybe a chicken tunnel that can be attached to the run and to the tractor to get them in the tractor.....

At the end of the day when you reattach it they should be willing to head back into the coop.

 

[Lori J]

A door or a hatch on top (depending on how tall it is) is probably a better/easier option than lifting the entire unit.

Are your chickens trained to you at all? If they are, they're not going to just run away even if you do lift it.

When they were chicks, they were OK with me handling them and picking them up. But now running around as a little flock of hens free ranging in the yard, they have progressively become more and more skittish about being picked up. I was very sad about this because I really wanted a lap chicken LOL.

 

[Lori J]

Maybe a chicken tunnel that can be attached to the run and to the tractor to get them in the tractor.....

At the end of the day when you reattach it they should be willing to head back into the coop.

Yes I didn’t think about that they certainly would. So I guess the trick would be to get them in it in the morning. Because of limited space I don’t think we would be able to attach the tractor to the coop.

 

[21hens-incharge]

With just 7 you may be able to grab each from inside the coop before opening the run door.

With my flock of 28 that would be quite a feat.....or at least a hilarious video.

 

[rosemarythyme]

When they were chicks, they were OK with me handling them and picking them up. But now running around as a little flock of hens free ranging in the yard, they have progressively become more and more skittish about being picked up.

I also have 7, most of which don't want to be picked up. But you can still train them to come to you using treats. Mine know the rattling sound of the treat canister and the "chook chook chook" call and will come running and even pen themselves for a snack. Train them to expect treats whenever you make a certain sound (shaking a canister, shaking a bag) and then you can probably use the treats to teach them to run into the tractor (if you install a door on a side) or back into the coop.