Chicken Tractor Question

[eworms]

I've got 26 birds including about 10-11 cockerels aged 15 weeks. I haven't observed any really nasty fights yet, but a few of them are definitely getting more aggressive as time goes by. Since my largest bird is still under 6 lbs, I'd like to begin separating out some of the known culls to see if that reduces aggression while they grow to a more suitable processing size. Breeds are mixed: of the known and likely culls I've got a Marans that likes to peck people, an Austra White that pulls feathers from both pullets and cockerels, and a sluggish Orpington.

My question is this, with such breeds, can I get away with a Salatin style tractor that measures 2' high with no roosting bar? If so, what size would y'all recommend for 8 or 9 birds? Is there a simple square footage that's recommended? I'm mainly concerned with the space they'll need at processing size (most of the way to full size for the breed) as I do not wish to build another right now.

Or would it make a big difference to the chickens' quality of life if I went with something closer to Ussery's model which is 3' high to accommodate a roosting bar? The added weight and materials cost are not desirable, but if the breeds I mentioned above must have a roosting bar, I'd rather not make them miserable.

The main coop is in the back yard so I'm planning to move the tractor about the front yard where the cockerels inside won't be able to see the pullets. I may use this tractor again next year if I decide to pick up some male chicks or some sort of ranger to grow out for the freezer next year.

 

[eworms]

Since there doesn't seem to be a lot of info out there on this one, I'll try the Salatin model and post results.

 

[McChooky]

Meat birds are housed in chicken tractors on dry bedding or grass depending on how often its moved. A roosting bar wouldn't be necessary unless the tractor is in a poorly drained area

 

[eworms]

Meat birds are housed in chicken tractors on dry bedding or grass depending on how often its moved. A roosting bar wouldn't be necessary unless the tractor is in a poorly drained area

Thanks. They'd be on grass and moved at least daily. I didn't think about drainage, but we've got sandy soil on the surface there so it drains well.
I don't plan to put Cornish Crosses in there. It's more excess cockerels of various breeds that aren't ready for processing yet. Future use will likely include mixed-breed male chick bargains and any stags raised by a broody hen that I don't plan to keep.

 

[paintedChix]

Soooo, I've used smaller tractors made from supplies I had on hand. The smaller ones are 2' wide by 2' high. Have a wire top. Usually I use it for juvenile chicks & as they got bigger/older, I moved them to a much taller a-frame style tractor or a coop/pen.

My larger birds always seemed happier in an enclosure that have a roost. The bantam Xs did OK in the 2' tall puppy xpens - not having roosts. At least part of the bantam breed was bantam silkie & part LF Ameraucana.

 

[eworms]

T

Soooo, I've used smaller tractors made from supplies I had on hand. The smaller ones are 2' wide by 2' high. Have a wire top. Usually I use it for juvenile chicks & as they got bigger/older, I moved them to a much taller a-frame style tractor or a coop/pen.

My larger birds always seemed happier in an enclosure that have a roost. The bantam Xs did OK in the 2' tall puppy xpens - not having roosts. At least part of the bantam breed was bantam silkie & part LF Ameraucana.

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Thanks, this was very informative. I wound up building an 8x8 Salatin type tractor. The cockerels seem ok in there. They peck and squawk a bit, but it's nothing like the chaos of when they were in with the pullets. In my location, a taller style with a roosting bar is favored to protect from heat so I'll be building one at some point. In the mean time, the one I built should work until summer really kicks off.

 

[paintedChix]

Thanks, this was very informative. I wound up building an 8x8 Salatin type tractor. The cockerels seem ok in there. They peck and squawk a bit, but it's nothing like the chaos of when they were in with the pullets. In my location, a taller style with a roosting bar is favored to protect from heat so I'll be building one at some point. In the mean time, the one I built should work until summer really kicks off.

Your 8x8 @ 64 sq ft is 24 sq feet larger than my 5x8 a-frame @ 40 sq ft. It may work for quite some time, if they do ok w/o a roost.

Are you able to range in an electric poultry fence? If so, you might consider the chicksaw as done by Justin Rhodes. He's on 5.0 version now, I think. Plus there are several YouTubers who have made changes that work for them. One "gent" was pretty nasty about all the things wrong w/ the chicksaw & how his "updates" were so much better & should be applied to further builds...

I'd love to use the chicksaw, but poultry netting doesn't work for me.

 

[eworms]

Your 8x8 @ 64 sq ft is 24 sq feet larger than my 5x8 a-frame @ 40 sq ft. It may work for quite some time, if they do ok w/o a roost.

Are you able to range in an electric poultry fence? If so, you might consider the chicksaw as done by Justin Rhodes. He's on 5.0 version now, I think. Plus there are several YouTubers who have made changes that work for them. One "gent" was pretty nasty about all the things wrong w/ the chicksaw & how his "updates" were so much better & should be applied to further builds...

I'd love to use the chicksaw, but poultry netting doesn't work for me.

I've thought about a chickshaw. This was quicker, easier, and cheaper to build. I could get electric netting and may one day. Our front yard, where I'm keeping these boys, is very open though and I worry about hawks. But, the chickshaw has definitely advantages and I may well build one someday.