Meat bird chicken tractor

[Dylan Lambert]

This is my first time raising chickens for meat. I have had plenty egg layers and have a pretty general knowledge about chickens. Just looking for any suggestions or things that i could change or make better on my chicken tractor. Pen dimensions are 10ftx10ftx2ft tall and i plan to raise 50 cornish cross and move them one pen lenght per day until 9 weeks of age. I have 12 watering cups and plan to just spread feed out by hand daily.

 

[Molpet]

This is my first time raising chickens for meat. I have had plenty egg layers and have a pretty general knowledge about chickens. Just looking for any suggestions or things that i could change or make better on my chicken tractor. Pen dimensions are 10ftx10ftx2ft tall and i plan to raise 50 cornish cross and move them one pen lenght per day until 9 weeks of age. I have 12 watering cups and plan to just spread feed out by hand daily.

They eat lots, might want to think about having a feeder on hand

 

[Rammy]

This is my first time raising chickens for meat. I have had plenty egg layers and have a pretty general knowledge about chickens. Just looking for any suggestions or things that i could change or make better on my chicken tractor. Pen dimensions are 10ftx10ftx2ft tall and i plan to raise 50 cornish cross and move them one pen lenght per day until 9 weeks of age. I have 12 watering cups and plan to just spread feed out by hand daily.

I use a hanging feeder for mine. I feed 12 hours on, 12 hours off, otherwise they get too big too fast, cant stand, or have heart attacks.

 

[Dylan Lambert]

So i can give them access to food for 12hrs? I thought that even that might be too much. My plan originally was to just feed once in the morning and once in the evening, but like i said this is my first time raising this many cornish cross. So i may just 0ut out feeders during the day and take away at night.

 

[Farmer Brian]

I feed mine AM and PM. Small wheels may help you move it. Be careful dragging it, birds aren't smart enough to walk with the tractor. They will lay down and get their legs stuck under the frame as you drag it over them.
Hang the food and they will walk to eat as you move it. Most of them anyway.

 

[RoosterML]

#1 modifying your tractor so it is an a-frame is extremely helpful so you don’t run anyone over when moving. It will give you a much better line of sight. Also when time to process it’s nice to just walk in and grab them.
#2 If you are not supplementing lighting you shouldn’t have to remove food. They won’t eat at night.
#3 With 50 birds in a 10x10 you will be moving your tractor much more than 1 time a day. If not they will be covered in poop. I have 25 in about the same size and I move it twice sometimes 3 times a day towards the end. That is why I suggest you make it so you have a great line of sight on everything for when it’s tractor moving time.
Here is a photo of mine. I do have a 4x8 flat top one like yours but don’t like it so now I use it to brood chicks.

 

[Dylan Lambert]

I feed mine AM and PM. Small wheels may help you move it. Be careful dragging it, birds aren't smart enough to walk with the tractor. They will lay down and get their legs stuck under the frame as you drag it over them.
Hang the food and they will walk to eat as you move it. Most of them anyway.

Thanks for the input. I have 4 wheels under crossbraces l. Hard to see in picture.

 

[Dylan Lambert]

#1 modifying your tractor so it is an a-frame is extremely helpful so you don’t run anyone over when moving. It will give you a much better line of sight. Also when time to process it’s nice to just walk in and grab them.
#2 If you are not supplementing lighting you shouldn’t have to remove food. They won’t eat at night.
#3 With 50 birds in a 10x10 you will be moving your tractor much more than 1 time a day. If not they will be covered in poop. I have 25 in about the same size and I move it twice sometimes 3 times a day towards the end. That is why I suggest you make it so you have a great line of sight on everything for when it’s tractor moving time.
Here is a photo of mine. I do have a 4x8 flat top one like yours but don’t like it so now I use it to brood chicks.
View attachment 2124460

Oh wow thats crazy! I put 19 of my 3 month old layers in there about a month ago and i have been moving on Wednesday and Sunday. A-frame definitely looks like the way to go. I wish i had enogh room to walk in and out a little more easy.