Predator Question on Chicken Tractor

[deegee68]

Hello,

The previous property owner left what looks like one of those cheap amazon chicken runs. We used that as a base and made a frame around the bottom and 4 feet up and covered the bottom half with hardware cloth. My question is, on the Suscovich type designs, they usually have the bottom half covered with hardware cloth but the top, just chicken wire and a tarp. I live in West Central Iowa and have racoons, coyotes, hawks and all the other usual suspects. Will just covering the bottom 4 feet with the hardware cloth be good enough?

Also, digging...should I surround with a hot wire or is digging not an issue with predators and tractors. It will be moved daily.

Thanks for any help that can be given.

DeeGee

 

[nuthatched]

I'd go all the way up with the cloth.

 

[LoveClockwise]

Also, digging...should I surround with a hot wire or is digging not an issue with predators and tractors. It will be moved daily.

I think I might worry about digging, but if they are just out during the daytime, it shouldn't be much of a problem.

 

[ErinJones0810]

I think I might worry about digging, but if they are just out during the daytime, it shouldn't be much of a problem.

I am about to build my first chicken tractor and was curious about the bottom. Have you had any issues with predators digging under without the bottom having any mesh? I was planning an A frame style with hardware cloth up the sides. Also curious how you set up the nesting boxes within the tractor, I see a lot that don't include nesting boxes.

 

[LoveClockwise]

I haven't had any predator problem yet during the day, and my girls have tractors without covered mesh bottoms, though their coop is within a run that does. I am also curious what predators you are worried about. Are you planning on them having exposed nesting boxes and do they have a coop? Will they be in that run during the night?

 

[Edwinchester]

I am about to build my first chicken tractor and was curious about the bottom. Have you had any issues with predators digging under without the bottom having any mesh? I was planning an A frame style with hardware cloth up the sides. Also curious how you set up the nesting boxes within the tractor, I see a lot that don't include nesting boxes.

I haven't built mine yet but based on using livestock panels in an arched fashion like so many use, I have seen some people cut a 12-in or 18-in strip of cattle panel lengthwise to the lengths of the ends and sides of your coop. Attach one edge of each strip to the bottom edge of your coop on the outside. Use fencing staples or something that will allow the cattle panel strips to freely hinge up and down. When you are moving the tractor you just lift them up and use a bungee strap or something to hold them up against the wall. When you get to your new destination just undo the bungee straps and let the livestock panel strips fall to the ground. You may want to cut them longer than each side so each strip overlaps the other thusly protecting the corners as well. You basically have a 12-in or 18 in wire barrier laying on the ground all the way around your coop that will prevent predators from digging in.