New chicken tractor

[Charlie Frown]

I built my first chicken tractor for my daughter's 3 hens with the intentions of getting them out of a fenced in run and on some fresh grass (I have a large yard). The only problem is that these three hens are tearing the grass up down to the dirt in less than a day. I was hoping to only have to move them every couple of days.

I haven't covered the bottom with hardware cloth yet. I am wondering if that will help prevent them from completely destroying the grass (or at least slow them down some)?



Thanks!

 

[Kevin565]

How large is the tractor?

 

[Charlie Frown]

21 sq ft or so.

 

[Trefoil]

Once you have a hardware cloth bottom on it they shouldn't be able to tear the sod. I have 6 in a 3 x7' pen and it would take several days for them to do much damage. I move it every day or so and there is no damage.

 

[RWD]

I keep 14 in 60sf and move the coop every 3-4 days with no damage. One mobile coop has Ameracaunas, and another has Barnevelders.
Maybe they are lacking something in their diet that has them digging. Hardware cloth will lead to foot problems. But really it sounds like a feed problem.