Need some creative thinkers for help

[sab]

The scenario is that my 3 chickens and a duck are wintering over in a tractor which is not ideal. Come spring we are building a nice big ol coop. But come spring, my tractor has to go back to moving around the yard. Now, it's stationary inside a 6 ft. high kennel area that is roofed just for the birds. So when I let them out of the tractor in the AM they have the kennel area as a run all around them. I know - not ideal. Newbie here and will make corrections come spring.

The problem is it will take a while to build the new coop and that means the tractor goes back into operation all over the yard. The specific problem is the duck's nest. She's made a nest on the lower level of the tractor (A-framed tractor) on the ground. I need to have something that I can put that nest of straw in so when the tractor starts to travel every couple of days to a new spot, I can just lift it out and place it back in when I move it. For the life of me, I can't come up with a good open topped container that I can use. I think a large boot box or man's shoe box would probably be perfect for that nest. But a box will disintegrate in no time on the ground with rain and dew. A milk grate is too big. Cat boxes will be too big.

Any ideas? The chickens won't be disturbed by their being moved from spot to spot cause they roost and lay in the top of this tractor anyway and nothing changes for them. But poor duck duck lays me an egg everyday this winter in that one spot. Ideas??? Thanks...

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

How about a 13 x 9 plastic food container.

 

[sab]

Actually..... I think that might work! Thanks!!

 

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
Yep...one of those smallish plastic storage tubs, or small plastic dishpan is what popped into my head. Walmart, Dollar Store, Big Lots...places like that should have large selections of those types of containers. And they're easy to clean!

 

[Chicklette 1]

Probably even a basket would hold up OK, They come in so many sizes and shapes and would not hold water and they would allow air flow.

 

[RockwaterFarm]

from my experience, ducks wont sit on eggs after you touch or move them, chickens will, but ducks wont. i would ust wait till the eggs hatch then start moving the tractor. if you get a bare spot on the ground form the scratching, it will grow back quickly with a little grass seed. even if you put the eggs back right where they were, the ducks wont sit back on them.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Litter box or oil drain pan, both found at Wallyworld.

 

[sab]

No - duck-duck is not laying fertile eggs - no drake around -- just an egg a day for me to eat or bake with....
But I think I found the solution... Went to the Dollar General store and stumbled on this dish drying rack that is smaller than the usual size - more useful for a camper sink. I cut off the utensil holders along the one side and low and behold the entire side is open. Here it is. Once I line it with straw and gently add her existing nest and place it in position now before the the tractor takes to moving in the spring --- I think she will accept it!

 

[gsim]

How about a milk crate sawed so that it is 4" deep? OR ask your mailman if he could get you one of those shallow plastic trays that they use. They have tons of them at each post office. May require a bribe of a dozen eggs or so.

Gerry

 

[mominoz]

I buy rubbermaid or sterlite bins a bit bigger than my ducks , I cut one long side almost all the way down to the bottom (I leave about a 3" inch lip to hold in the nest material.Easy to clean and movable.