Keeping digging predators out of a chicken tractor

[Weeg]

Hey guys!
I am finally redoing add rebuilding my chicken setup, and doing a tractor! I am so done with my stationary setup, so am very excited to change it up.
I just have one issue, I want it to be mobile, so can't burry fences. Usually we would wrap the bottom of the pen in wire, but since covering up the wire would make it so they could eat grass, they would just be standing on the wire their whole lives.
What do I do about this? Is it okay that they are standing on the wire? Do I not wrap the bottom and take my chances? If the metal was wider, closer to 1inch or larger instead of 1/2 inch? Would that work? Any info is appreciated! Thank for you time!

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Very much not an expert here. But what kind of predators do you have? Will you be there to lock them up before dark? Will they be out in the tractor when you aren’t home?
Our tractor doesn’t have a bottom because our main daytime predators hawks and we don’t have weasels.

 

[Weeg]

Very much not an expert here. But what kind of predators do you have? Will you be there to lock them up before dark? Will they be out in the tractor when you aren’t home?
Our tractor doesn’t have a bottom because our main daytime predators hawks and we don’t have weasels.

We will have a "box" that they will have bedding and roosts in it, purposing as the coop, but much more box like haha! It will be raised off the ground and I can lock them up in that at night for sure. I guess it doesn't' need to have a bottom if its locked up, but I do want ti to be bomb proof.
We have really every predator. Coyotes, Birds of prey, Bears, Cougars, Weasels, Mink, Foxes, Bobcats, Rodents, Coons and I'm probably forgetting some.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

We will have a "box" that they will have bedding and roosts in it, purposing as the coop, but much more box like haha! It will be raised off the ground and I can lock them up in that at night for sure. I guess it doesn't' need to have a bottom if its locked up, but I do want ti to be bomb proof.
We have really every predator. Coyotes, Birds of prey, Bears, Cougars, Weasels, Mink, Foxes, Bobcats, Rodents, Coons and I'm probably forgetting some.

I would definitely put a bottom in them. It would be too easy for mink or weasel to dig in our a bear to just turn it over. I’m afraid I don’t know much about how to put on or what type of wire to use.

 

[Weeg]

I would definitely put a bottom in them. It would be too easy for mink or weasel to dig in our a bear to just turn it over. I’m afraid I don’t know much about how to put on or what type of wire to use.

Its going to be big. 8x12 ft, and then 6ft tall, made of welded wire fence panels, and cage wire, then with the flimsier chicken wire at the top. We are going to weld it together, it wont be like a tiny little one the twill flip easy. Its really just a huge run, then with a box/coop that we will build off the ground sitting in the corner. That will fully close with a door, metal roof, and be the shelter, probably not 100% predator proof though if something can get in. Defiantly want some kind of bottom, thats my issue.
Were thinking about using 1x3 inch cage wire for the bottom, so that will eb wider for them to stand on. But, when they scratch the ground, they will be wrapping their feet and claws against the wire.

 

[Weeg]

Thanks for the help anyway though! Hopefully we will find something.
Thinking abbot just skirting it, like doing the cage wire in a 2ft skirt around the inside of the run, so that the middle is completely open. The predator will have to dig all the way under the skirt to get to the birds. Do you think that will work?

 

[Artichoke Lover]

. I think I’m no expert I’ll say it again but I think it would just make the whole longer I think in a traditional skirt it’s the depth not the distance that is supposed to stop a predator. Also I would be sure to use wire that is small enough a mink can’t squeeze through. Glad to help!

 

[Weeg]

@21hens-incharge any ideas? I'm still worried about them standing on the wire, do you think the "skirt" idea will work?

 

[21hens-incharge]

@21hens-incharge any ideas? I'm still worried about them standing on the wire, do you think the "skirt" idea will work?

Got a sketch we can look at?

The dimensions you give will make it very hard to move without a farm tractor.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Got a sketch we can look at?

The dimensions you give will make it very hard to move without a farm tractor.

It can be done with wheels and 2 people. Mine is a a similar size. I’ll take a picture of the wheel set up when I go down to the coop in a few. If there’s no wheels though I agree pretty much impossible to move. The only way to move one that size would be picking it up with a tractor or towing it. And towing it could damage it.