Do you HAVE to use a tractor?

[georgialee]

I'm thinking about doing a bunch of meaties towards the fall. The terrain of our property will not allow for a tractor (lots of trees, hilly, etc.). Can I just do a run with a shed type coop that I clean every week or so? Maybe have some large wood chips (like mulch) in the run that I can just turn under and let compost once I'm done with the meaties.

 

[raimnel]

I heard not to use wood chips, there to big, but shavings would probably work. We were going to use a fenced in area but are now building a tractor, to much poo to little area. As far as the area needed, I saw on this site some where a plan for moving your tractor. Lets see...

20 1 2 3 4
19 8 7 6 5
18 9 10 11 12
17 16 15 14 13

ok starting with you tractor on spot 1 in the a.m. first day moving to spot 2 in the pm some time then either moving again or wait till the a.m. about an hour before you give them their food back (I take their food 8pm and give it back 8am.) Theory is they forage till you give them their food. Any ways the moving plan you would need 5 x the legth of your tractor and 4 x the width. Ex my tractor will be 10x6 (for up to 30 birds) for this moving plan I will need an area that is 50x24 OR 30x40.

Clear as mud right??

 

[cassie]

We raised ours in a 12' X 12' box stall bedded with shavings. We had 25 chickens in there. When we order more this fall I will try a few more. Maybe 35. I just added more shavings when needed. Didn't clean the stall until after the meaties were all gone. Didn't have any trouble with odor or dirty chickens and they all seemed comfy.