Chicken "virgin"

[123ChickieLou]

I know, right! Pretty gross. Good luck with the tractor. What kind are you building? Will you update? I'm going to start one soon myself so I'll post some pics too.

 

[Farmettehopeful]

I don't have an exact idea yet, just something small and light so I can move it everyday and made from scraps around the house! Since I only have 7 of them, I'm hoping the stink doesn't get too bad if I move it everyday! We started working on our coop today for the layers, hope to have that done tomorrow (even though they won't need it for a while!) But that is a much bigger project than the lil tractor will be lol Can't wait to see yours!

 

[Farmettehopeful]

Almost completed...ran out of our leftover fencing so going to ask around for some Hoping this is good enough for 7 meaties for a week, then 5 for 4 more weeks.

 

[Farmettehopeful]

I forgot...this is all made from my scraps which makes the chicken cheaper per pound Hoping the screen helps some dust and stuff stay in to help block their smell lol Actually I used it to help keep their necks out of harms way!

 

[123ChickieLou]

Looks good! I made an A-frame at one point too. I took it apart to use the parts for the pen. I still have enough stuff left over to make another one.

The screen was a good idea-- I've lost some before to raccoons/opossum pulling them through the chicken wire (dismantling and disemboweling) and to a hawk that tried to get them through the wire.

Here's the thing- the chicks/chickens will try to get underneath something or as close to something as they can to hide. So it's natural for them to run to the edge to try to crouch under the edge of the frame. It just isn't natural for them to go to the center, which to them feels like out in the open, to get away. Maybe the older and wiser ones will but the babies don't.

Is the end of yours closed in or just covered for shelter? What did you cover it with?

 

[Farmettehopeful]

The ends will be covered with the wire as well. It is also covered by screen all around already. Thankfully it is extremely light so I can drag it around the yard everyday maybe even twice a day to lessen stink?!? Unfortunately I did not think ahead to have an opening for me to put in water and food so I'm hoping they will continue to run away from me (as they do now) and back into the corner when I need to lift it for moving, food, and water....we will see in a couple of weeks if it works!