Protecting my planned tractor/ark

[elmo]

Quote:
I would say that's a tad crowded. 10 square feet per chicken is more of a minimum allowance in my opinion for an outdoor run. It's 4 square feet per chicken indoors that's usually given as a minimum size for the coop, I think.

Don't overlook the advantages of a square tractor over a rectangular one. A 6' by 6' pen gives you actually more square footage than a 4' by 8' one. And a 6' by 6' pen gets you pretty close to 10 square feet per chicken for 4 hens.

 

[believer01]

elmo thanks for the info! Now to get a tractor built (oops, guess I better finish greenhouse and garden first.....no, girls need out....no, it's time to plant........

 

[Sinfonian]

Quote:
I would say that's a tad crowded. 10 square feet per chicken is more of a minimum allowance in my opinion for an outdoor run. It's 4 square feet per chicken indoors that's usually given as a minimum size for the coop, I think.

Don't overlook the advantages of a square tractor over a rectangular one. A 6' by 6' pen gives you actually more square footage than a 4' by 8' one. And a 6' by 6' pen gets you pretty close to 10 square feet per chicken for 4 hens.

A 4 foot wide tractor is about all I can successfully hope to move around my yard and connect up with my coop without deforestation. We'll see if I can swing a 4x10 or only a 4x8.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Those sizes should work ok for 4 chickens especially if you move the tractor frequently enough to give them something to do in there. I notice my 9 bantams in their 72 square foot tractor take a couple of hours to work over the ground under the tractor and then they want new ground. Of course, pretty slim pickings in our yard here at this time of year.

The other thing is manure management. If you move your tractor every day or so it should work ok.

If the tractor is to be their "permanent run" attached to the coop, do be careful about skimping on size, though. The area where the tractor is parked for any length of time will get decimated down to the dirt in an amazingly short period of time, and then things could get ugly. Hens with nothing to do but get crabby with each other need enough space so a victim can escape from a bully.

 

[believer01]

Can anyone give an estimate as to how decimated the area beneath a tractor would become in a days time? I've got 3 full size and 2 banty hens. Was planning on building a tractor that would have from 64 - 80 sq ft. Would like to have them in it at least 4 - 6 hrs a day.

My hubby is one of those who cares what the "lawn" looks like - to me it's a yard, with a purpose! But gotta keep him happy (somewhat

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