Chickens digging inside tractor

[Black Jaque]

I've got a chicken tractor but the chickens have begun digging dusting holes. I wanted a tractor specifically so they wouldn't wear out a spot in the lawn and I could keep moving them before they killed the lawn.

I don't want little potholes all over.

Any suggestions?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Chickens dig, scratch, and peck and wear out the soil they are on. It is simply what they do. There is no way to stop them. I'm sorry you've discovered something about chickens in a tractor you did not previously know. Perhaps your post will be enlightening to others as well.

Oh, and welcome to BYC!!

 

[donrae]

How big is your tractor and how often do you move it? Is it where they live full time or do they have another space to go to?

The dust bathing isntinct is very strong and it's important hygeine for the birds. Try getting a large-ish shallow pan, like a dishpan or litter box and filling it with dirt or sand. You won't want it more than half full as they'll scratch and fling the dirt around, and you'll probably have to refill it often.

 

[SSTupperware]

Gonna have to pull that tractor all over the place often... Even though the yard looks nice the N will kill the lawn any way for a while... Just enough for weeds to take hold...

 

[Cindy in PA]

I had bantams in a large tractor the other year, thinking they would not dig as much as LF. We moved them every other day, but there were times that they would have the area dug up in a day. As others said, chickens just love to dig!

 

[mickey328]

We had them digging holes until we put in a couple boxes for dust baths...since then, not a hole in sight! Plus, we move the rig about every 3 or 4 days. By that time it's getting pretty stinky and trampled, so before the grass is totally trashed, we move it on. Once moved we either scoop the poo or hose the area down. Once it's dried, we run the mower over it and dump the bag in the compost. By the time we've moved it back around to a previously used area, the grass has pretty much recovered.

But I highly recommend a dust bath box or two. We had a couple of those plastic totes that were about 6 or 8 inches high and filled them about 2/3 full...mostly dirt, peat moss and a little bit of sand. They LOVE it and happily dig and fluff in it...and leave the sod alone

 

[Black Jaque]

I noticed the digging sometime after I switched from lining the coop with sand to lining it with wood shavings. I switched it back to sand bedding inside the coop, but they still dug a hole.

Yesterday there was no hole in the yard - so maybe it just takes a day or two for them to realize they can take their dust baths inside the coop.

I haven't had problems with the N killing the lawn even leaving the tractor in one spot for up to a week. Normally I move it every 3-4 days, and hose down the former spot - mainly to prevent the dog from going in and "cleaning up" the tractor.

 

[mickey328]

Yeah...what IS it with dogs and what we call "chicken crunchies"?? Ewwwww