Do I need a bigger more permanent winter coop?

[angelavl]

Thanks. Yes, I was thinking I'd just recycle the tractor and use it as a hen house. We could easily replace the chicken wire if needed, but we haven't had much of a prob with predators. Biggest challenge is keeping our little nigerian dwarf goats from squeezing in to get a taste of chicken feed when we leave the lower doors open. If we did the hoop house, I think I would use a mesh to cover at least the lower portion.

 

[bruceha2000]

I don't really have extra garage space, but that's why I was thinking of going the cattle panel/tarp route. In fact I was thinking I could just park their tractor inside of a cattle panel hut (similar to this https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/172799/our-hoop-house-chicken-tractor), take the lower doors off, and then I wouldn't have to build a new nesting area at all.

Of course, to justify all that work.... I might have to get some more chicks next spring!!

That would be great! But what if you attach the tractor to the OUTSIDE end of the cattle panel pen? Then they can sleep and lay as they do now but have tons more room "outside'. Why lose 30 sq ft of space in the new pen when the tractor is already a self contained, dry, predator safe home?

Don't do too much of the "chicken math" thing though or you'll need a new coop and ANOTHER cattle panel pen!

Bruce