I'm torn

[ChicChick88]

We are in the beginning stage of building our coop and I am torn between building a tractor or making a permanent area for them.

I want to do a tractor so that they have grass to eat but I want something permanent so that I can protect them. Free range is not an option. We have a creek in our back yard and a lot of hawks flying around.

Help me decide, give me some ideas.

 

[Kiki]

I'd vote for a permanent walk in coop for easy cleaning over a tractor coop any day.
I feel like permanent would be easier to predator proof.

 

[hysop]

Are hawks your only predators? If so I’d go with the tractor coop that way they get fresh grass often. But if you have more sneaky predators then maybe a permanent, well fortified coop will be your best option.

How big is your area? Where do you live?

 

[ChicChick88]

Are hawks your only predators? If so I’d go with the tractor coop that way they get fresh grass often. But if you have more sneaky predators then maybe a permanent, well fortified coop will be your best option.

How big is your area? Where do you live?

I live in Ohio, I have 1 acre. I plan on giving the chickens at least a 4'x8' area. We have raccoons and I've heard of foxes in our area. Lots of deer and squirrels to but I am not concerned about them.

 

[hysop]

I live in Ohio, I have 1 acre. I plan on giving the chickens at least a 4'x8' area. We have raccoons and I've heard of foxes in our area. Lots of deer and squirrels to but I am not concerned about them.

I would probably go with a permanent structure then. Who knows maybe once in a while you can let them free range for an hour or two before dark with supervision.

 

[ColoradoPip]

I'm torn

Hi Torn, I'm Pip, nice to meet you.

I live in Ohio, I have 1 acre

I would build a permanent coop, you can use fencing, tunnels, or other means so move your chickens around if you want to later.

 

[aart]

Confined birds do just fine, with the right bedding they will have plenty to scratch around for, and you can do grazing frames for fresh greens.

I live in Ohio, I have 1 acre. I plan on giving the chickens at least a 4'x8' area.

Go bigger.
How many birds?
How big is coop, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help here.

Norther or Southern Ohio?

Welcome to BYC! @ChicChick88
Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[featherhead007]

We are in the beginning stage of building our coop and I am torn between building a tractor or making a permanent area for them.

I want to do a tractor so that they have grass to eat but I want something permanent so that I can protect them. Free range is not an option. We have a creek in our back yard and a lot of hawks flying around.

Help me decide, give me some ideas.

Hey, just build both?

 

[featherhead007]

Hi Torn, I'm Pip, nice to meet you.




I would build a permanent coop, you can use fencing, tunnels, or other means so move your chickens around if you want to later.

PIP, My rooster keeps asking for your hen's phone number!

 

[Acre4Me]

Hi from Ohio!

seems from posts on BYC, those with Tractors usually have a fair amount of land to move it around for fresh grass. Or they have a very small flock.

we have an acre and we built a permanent coop and run. Well, the run is an old dog run built right behind the barn. It is 50’ (length of barn) and 10’ wide. The barn blocks all west winds In the winter, which is helpful. because we already had a basic area set up (Old dog run) we didn’t consider anything else. Also, we only have 1 tree in the back for shade, so it limits our ability to move a tractor around to fresh ground and provide some shade.

not sure where you are in Ohio, but here (west central) it can get pretty cold, wicked west winds, very wet/damp. The permanent location allowed us to provide a raised, walk-in coop, a protected run (due to barn) and a roof over most of the run. If you have an environment that has some areas of shade, and protection, without pooling water, then the tractor can be moved around between those areas, then it could work out fine.