New Chicks on Rock n Roll Ridge, Oklahoma

[drumstick diva]

Love the little chick that is checking out the thermometer-seems like a happy tenant. The tractor you want to build is awesome - please do take photos and description of progress. We love to look.

 

[RnRRidgerunner]

Thank you all for a warm welcome to BYC. The "Girls" have been growing wing feathers quite quickly so I figured since I bought some poultry netting (1 inch Galvanized, 20 gauge stuff) I had better try fashioning a "No Flight Zone" barrier before I have to go play hide and seek for one of the little critters. LOL

I took and cut a piece of the 24 inch wide wire about 36 inches long and then, while wearing gloves for safety, fashioned a top around the bin with a couple of inches bent down around the perimeter of it. I then cut a slit where the heat lamp goes and slid it into place to finalize the containment barrier. Here is a picture of it. It might be referred to as a "Poop containment barrier" as well. ha ha

What can I say, crude but effective. I also moved the feeder out from the corner so they have better access.

 

[RnRRidgerunner]

Hey BYC'ers,
I have been busy working on the frame of the "Stagecoach Chicken Coop". I only almost made one mistake so far. lol I had relatives over for lunch which lasted on in to the afternoon too late to get started today. I need to start painting the boards I have finished drilling and sanding before the dry out. They at pressure treated and will "pretzel" if they are not weighted down with bricks. I have them stored inside my cargo container for now. Anyway here are some pictures so far Step one:









Oh .....the top picture is of the beveled corner braces, then the side boards with holes for wheels and end pieces, third and fourth ones are the side boards and end boards and holes for hoops, The last one is the boards lined up ready for paint. Which I have yet to do. LOL It is a START.

more as it happens later.

 

[RnRRidgerunner]

Hey guys! I finally got back on here. Here is a picture of me with the finished Chicken Tractor. It is a bit smaller than I would like, but the girls love it. It is shown when they were still smaller and so are the feed and water accessories. LOL




Here are the happy girls at home at last and outside!!!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Nice looking tractor! The girls should appreciate all the fresh pasture they will get to pick over.

 

[RnRRidgerunner]

Here is me and Lizzie, she seems to favor me and comes when I call "chick chick chick", LOL.

Here is the new upgrade feeder, I had to add a step for the girls as they are a bit short here. It lasts for 7 days without fill up (so far). LOL The larger bucket with four poultry nipples is also large enough for a gallon and half of water for 7 days.

A little extra cover for shade, wind and rain protection works very well bunged to the cage wire. I also threw in a piece of cardboard about 18 inch square to put dirt on for there dust baths. They go nutz with it.

We went through Tulsa Sunday and I managed to pick up some spiral chicken leg rings to help tell them apart. Well, they only had three colors of the larger ones and the little ones did not fit. So I can tell some of them by there colors around the head and personality so that worked out. In the process of calling them to the front door with treats and grabbing them one by one, a chicken who I will now call Muriel (with a red band) seemed to "assume the position" on my leg. I think she thinks we are engaged. LOL I was just petting her back gently to calm her down. LOL

Just fun stuff. I keep moving them around for new grass, but I think I need another wheel on a swivel up front to help it across the rocky areas. Maybe a boat trailer one that will swivel down too!

I have been enjoying some of the posts on this BYC.

 

[RnRRidgerunner]

Nice looking tractor! The girls should appreciate all the fresh pasture they will get to pick over.

Thanks Kelsie2290, It has 16 gauge, 2 X 4 inch wire on the bottom to keep predators out, but they do fine at pecking through for things. They have not turned into mowing machines yet. LOL I might add they seem to be on their way.

 

[Kelsie2290]

A lot of people use small colored zip ties for leg bands, just cut off the extra (if you use those on chicks, like the spirals, be sure to check them often and change when they get too tight)... usually easier to find a few zip ties in colors than the spirals.
Sounds like you are getting your tractor where you want it! Love the pvc feeders and waterers, sure is time saving. You'll keep making adjustments and improvements all year until it fits what you and your hens need it for... when they get bigger you will be surprised how fast they can mow a patch of grass

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC! Great looking coop congrats!

 

[katie5668]

I have enjoyed following your progress from plastic bin to tractor...really nice chicken tractor by the way!

what fun these feathered creatures can be!

As a former Okie I do miss the lakes & green of Oklahoma..crazy enough the summers here are almost as hot as there...but without the humidty!

Keystone Lake was our favorite GO TO in hot weather..& I do miss those cool nites at the lake shore.

ahh I ramble . a late welcome to BYC...