Does a tractor make sense?

[andythescot]

My neighbors got these new dogs that occasionally get loose and cause trouble for our flock. We used to be able to free range our birds, but now they're confined to the run for most days.

I'm wondering if it would make sense to build a chicken tractor to keep them in for a few hours each day and then letting them go back into the coop at night. We have about an acre of land and they'd be on pasture probably only a few hours a day.

We have 9 birds, possibly getting a few more but we'll never have more than 12 probably.

Does this idea make sense? And if yes what should I be looking into as far as construction is concerned? And if no, what other solutions can I look into?

Thanks

 

[petrel]

Getting them from the run to the tractor seems to be the greatest hurdle, so the tractor would have to be pretty easy to move. In addition, if you decide to go the tractor route, be sure to engineer in plenty of shade. Even with an attached coop, my chickens are desperate for more shade. I've had to just lean plywood against the tractor to keep them out of the sun. You may want to consider an electric fence instead, and make sure to set it up somewhere shade is available.