Anyone raise layers or dual purpose in a tractor coop? What breeds do best foraging? How much of the diet can be foraging?
I have 8 layers in a 8x4 tractor. I have 4 plymouth barred rocks and 4 golden laced wyandottes. They have done very well over this past year. I get 6=8 eggs a day from my girls. I move the tractor and run every day or every other day. I let them out in the late afternoon/evening for freeranging. They have food available all the time in the tractor and graze in the run. They freerange about 2-4 hours each day depending on my work schedule. I notice that they like to to into the tractor and eat their layer feed even while foraging. They will also grab a bite just before roosting. My girls are dual purpose birds but are for eggs primarily. They wintered well in the tractor Most LF breeds will do well foraging but I like to keep food available for my girls all the time. You should research the breeds you are interested in as to their foraging abilities.
