day time play area and laying questions

[tommysgirl]

We have the girls...4 weeks old on this coming Monday, the coop and my H is building the enclosure as I type this. We have neighbor dogs that come into our yard from time to time so can't free range completely but when we are home during the day we would like to allow our girls the chance to scratch around in the dirt and eat grass and bugs and stuff but I have questions:

I think I can easily construct an A frame tractor using PVC, hardware cloth and zip ties. Would I need to stabilize the base in some way...rebar in the two bottom pipe pieces maybe??

Also once they start laying will this thing I make need nesting boxes built into it? Or can I assume that the hens will likely lay on a predictable schedule in the morning hours when they are in their coop/enclosure?

If I need nesting boxes in the tractor, how elaborate do I need to make them? Can I just give them a couple of straw lined milk crates with a lip built into the front or do they need more than that?

They will be spending the night in the coop. Is it safe to assume that I will be able to easily train them to walk to and from coop/enclosure to tractor?

Do hens normally lay in the morning?

Can they somehow be trained to lay in the morning?

Thanks in advance for your help I am absolutely smitten with my chicks and want to do what will make them happy. Three Delawares, Two Red Stars, Two Black Australorps.

 

[citychickx6]

How wonderful to have chickens!

I encourage mine to go back into the coop with treats (dried mealworms and scratch). So far it is working with the odd one needing a little herding. It should work to get them into the a-frame too.

What about making thin rebar into J shaped hooks to push or pound into the ground to hold the a-frame to the ground?

I think mine mostly lay during the morning. When mine are out I am fortunate enough to be able to just leave the coop door open and they go in if they need something. I have a 6' fence and never leave them out without me there so dogs are not a worry for me.

I do think if they are in the tractor without open access to the nesting area you could get them to lay in the milk crate or other designated area using golf balls as a visual clue for them.

Enjoy the silly antics of the hens!

Babs

edited to add: Are your delawares on the EXTREMELY friendly list like mine?
Cannot take a step without Lilly right there under foot.

 

[tommysgirl]

Thanks for the reply. I like the idea of hooks to stabilize it. One of my Delawares is the shyest of the bunch but the other two are very friendly. They are definitely the top hens at this point they seem to do things a little bit before the others and are the first to grab and run with treats.

Thanks again....if anyone has other ideas please share

 

[tommysgirl]

oh and I'm in Northern CA if that makes any difference to responders.

 

[pineneedlefarms]

You will want your run to withstand dog's. My chicks free range in our pasture, but if dogs other than my own were allowed in my pasture I would be feaking out. I would suggest making your tractor as dog proof as possible, or only let your chicks out when you are home.

I think it's possible to train them to go to the tractor with treats (bread, rice, bugs). At night they will go on their own to the coop.

 

[cafarmgirl]

You can easily train them to follow you to the run just by bribing them with a treat each time. A few handfuls of scratch or seed is an easy way. They'll learn the routine fast.

On a side note: I'd be very, very concerned about the visiting neighbor dogs and I would put a stop to it. It is amazing what an excited and determined dog can do, and how quickly, if it wants to get to your chickens. Even a small dog. Even with a seemingly secure run. It is a horrible experience to have all your girls slaughtered. And two dogs "visiting" together? Even worse.

Sorry, don't mean to be such a downer but if words of warning can help prevent one such experience then I'll say it all day long. Read the "predators" threads here. Lots and lots of sad dog related stories.

 

[tommysgirl]

Thank you everyone for your concern about the dogs. Rest asssured that our hens would only be out in the tractor when we are home and out with them. The dog issue is easily handled with a couple of phone call as the dog owners are all related to me I used to raise sheep and know what dogs can do so am definitely not naive about that.

I am grateful for the advice about getting them from tractor to coop and back but am still fuzzy on the questions re. Need for nesting boxes in the tractor if it is more of a play pen than a home and if so how elaborate do they need to be? Should I move that question to another forum?
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