Is my tractor too small for 8 chickens

[mlrod1914]

All,
I am building a chicken tractor, but iIm having second thoughts...

Is this too small for 8 chickens?
I added a pic with my little guy to add some perspective.
I am willing to convert this into a permanent coop, but I need some ideas from you guys.

Conditions:
I live in massachusetts
No roosters
little less than a acre of land
plan on free ranging
2 nesting boxes 1 sq foot per
current coop size - 9 square feet
run size - 42 sq feet including underneath

Thanks in advance for you comments!

-Mike

 

[ChaoSS]

Seems a bit on the small side....


Seems a bit on the heavy side as well. What with all of those shingles on the top, do you think you'll be able to move it?

 

[jeepguy982001]

yes i think it is too small. with 8 chickens thats about 1 1/8 sq ft per each one in the coop. I mean it may work during good weather and moved alot and lots of free ranging time. But in the winter they will spend much of their time inside.

 

[mlrod1914]

Good feedback.

I was going to do a lever system with wheelbarrow wheels. But yes it is heavy.

So I'm thinking I need to plant this coop somewhere.

Any ideas on how to make it bigger without scrapping the whole design?

 

[jeepguy982001]

just an idea. But if i was you i would enclose what you have and then raise it 2 or 3 feet up. they can use underneath as a run. which would give ya 5 sq ft per bird inside. the run will still be a tad small but should be fine if you free range some. of course if you do this it'll be permanent and you could not use it like a tractor.

 

[mlrod1914]

So your saying raise the whole think up a bit and extend the coop portion the entire length of the tractor?

I am good with turning this into a permanent coop. Its too heavy already.

How would the chickens get into the coop? Should I move the ladder into the middle in this case?

Also I plan on adding something for traction on the ladder.

 

[mlrod1914]

By the way, thank you for taking the time to respond.

 

[jeepguy982001]

yup thats the idea. i've seen people on here whose doors for the chickens to go in and out is on the bottom. when i made my ramp for traction i just used some scrap 1x2 and just screwed them every couple inches up the ramp doesn't need to be anything fancy half the time mine just jump the 3 ft or so in and out.

 

[mlrod1914]

Ok. I like your idea. So when I extend the coop to the end, then will I need additional access doors for clean out? Right now the one side of the coop is a door on a hinge.I also have a door on the top of the egg box to get the eggs.

 

[9014josh]

where in ma do you live? im also from ma Southbridge to be exact