Chicken Tractors for Pasture Maintenance?

[HeresAChick]

Has anyone had much luck with using chicken tractors in the pastures with other livestock? I have horses in two large pastures at my farm and I also have a small (growing) flock of mixed bantams. My intent in getting the birds was so that they'd assist with bug control and maybe improve the quality of the pastures. Free ranging is just not shaping up to be an option due to predators, but I don't want to give up on the dream. The chicken tractors would be inside the primary electric fencing and checked several times each day, but I still worry. Pros and cons anyone? First hand experiences welcome!

 

[centrarchid]

If horses leave chicken tractor alone you should be alright. You might consider hooking a hotwire to tractor keeping horses from nosing around after feed or scratching themselves on it. I would make tractor heavier than needed for simply holding chicken so unit will withstand horses typical actions on such structures.