I started my new chicken tractor for my meat birds

[Buster52]

Quote:
I think some people manage doing it that way, but I would think it is messier and more work. I tractor mine because it is easy (no cleaning) they fertilize the grass which in turn feeds the birds next time around, they seem happy, and they taste better due to a more varied diet.

I should mention I use heritage birds (Dark Conish) for my meaties. And while they don't produce the poo Cornish X do, they are still prodigious poopers. I couldn't imagine trying to clean up after that.

 

[guardian1]

i can build a tractor, that's not a problem. do you know how much square footage each bird needs?

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
Not as much as a traditional coop, since you will be moving it every day. Jaku and others can answer better than that, but Joel Salatin runs 80 to 100 birds in his 10'X10' tractors. I currently have 27 in my 8'X8' and they seem to have plenty of room.

 

[jaku]

Quote:
Not as much as a traditional coop, since you will be moving it every day. Jaku and others can answer better than that, but Joel Salatin runs 80 to 100 birds in his 10'X10' tractors. I currently have 27 in my 8'X8' and they seem to have plenty of room.

I don't think I'd do any more than 75 in my 10x10. At the end, competition for food was really high, and there wasn't enough space to put more feeders.

 

[guardian1]

ok, thanks for your help!

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
Not as much as a traditional coop, since you will be moving it every day. Jaku and others can answer better than that, but Joel Salatin runs 80 to 100 birds in his 10'X10' tractors. I currently have 27 in my 8'X8' and they seem to have plenty of room.

I don't think I'd do any more than 75 in my 10x10. At the end, competition for food was really high, and there wasn't enough space to put more feeders.

No, wait. I'm sorry. Salatin's tractors are 12'X12'. That's a little better, I think, but I'm with you. That still seems like a tight fit to me.

 

[biomistake]

Hey just a thought for the pvc shelters. Somewhere on one of the top runs if you add a threaded 3 way you can fill the frame with water. We all know how heavy water is right?

... Of course that would mean glueing your connectors thus preventing break down for storage/moving purposes.

 

[guardian1]

i don't think we were planning on doing more than a dozen birds, so a 10 x 10 would be more than enough.

 

[Bucky182]

Ok I am new to this site, and am going to build a tractor (already printed the instructions) why do you not use chicken wire on the tractor is it too heavey or too weak?

 

[jaku]

Quote:
Filling it with water would defeat the purpose though. The PVC is nice because it is really light. If you need a heavier one, you might as well make it out of wood. Weight is hard on the PVC ones. When mine is tarped and it rains, there's some sagging. Then, not only is it hard to move, but I'm worried it will be damaged.