Texas

[JD4570]

Howdy Ya'll. Haven't been on the thread in a good while. Looks like ya'll have been busy! Gotta say

to TXLacy and jdfbg. I've got some serious reading to do to catch up.

 

[allen wranch]

Well I got the chicken tractor 80% complete. I still have to finish the waterer and make a hanging feeder. I put two roost in it, one low along the side and one up high along the back close to the back tarp so they get up there at night. I went out there last night and checked and they were huddled up in the corner. I built it more for a grow out pen so it doesn't need nesting boxes but I feel like they need more shelter. Maybe get a bigger tarp that comes farther around the sides. They've become accustom to their nice cozy stalls with tin roofs wooden walls and deep pine shavings. Maybe they will find the perch today.

What a great idea !
May I suggest you put hardware cloth at the base of the walls to prevent predators from reaching in to get your chickens. For sure, put hardware cloth where the roost is against the side.

 

[Little Wing]

What a great idea !
May I suggest you put hardware cloth at the base of the walls to prevent predators from reaching in to get your chickens. For sure, put hardware cloth where the roost is against the side.

That's a good idea. I hadn't thought about varmints. It's within the yard fence with dogs out all the time. I've only seen one coon in the 4 years we have been here and I killed it. I plan on replacing the tarp with tin next week and think I will add some hardware cloth along the roost areas. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Little Wing]

so DW and i were talkin about makin a pen like this next month! lol all i want is a 3ft tall tractor to put the 30-40 meaties in! cant wait to go to the depot to get some buildin materials!!!

The grand kids saw it and didn't even snap that I re-homed some of their tricycle parts to make it. lol

 

[CatKai]

That's a good idea. I hadn't thought about varmints. It's within the yard fence with dogs out all the time. I've only seen one coon in the 4 years we have been here and I killed it. I plan on replacing the tarp with tin next week and think I will add some hardware cloth along the roost areas. Thanks for the heads up!

Yep it's a good idea for where they roost and go up as high as they can reach their heads from the ground. I had a Leghorn hen pulled thru the fence last year in the morning - daylight with all my dogs out. She was blind on 1 side so probably didn't see what got her. After that we put sheet metal around the bottom and 1/2'' wire around where they roost and some other areas where they might reach. It's not pretty but it's functional. You may not see the things that might snack on them but they are out there. Depends on what time of night/morning you go out what you will find. We have only lost 2 hens, 1 to probably a racoon and the other to one of my dogs.

 

[topdycke]

Little Wing that is a really well done tractor. How does the weight compare if you had done in PVC ? Yes I am slacking at work (hiding iPad)

 

[Little Wing]

Yep it's a good idea for where they roost and go up as high as they can reach their heads from the ground. I had a Leghorn hen pulled thru the fence last year in the morning - daylight with all my dogs out. She was blind on 1 side so probably didn't see what got her. After that we put sheet metal around the bottom and 1/2'' wire around where they roost and some other areas where they might reach. It's not pretty but it's functional. You may not see the things that might snack on them but they are out there. Depends on what time of night/morning you go out what you will find. We have only lost 2 hens, 1 to probably a racoon and the other to one of my dogs.

I had planned on putting chicken wire 4 feet up on all sides but that was to keep small chicks in. Hardware cloth is so expensive, it may be a little while. Maybe a 2 foot piece of tin around the bottom. I started this because I had free pipe to build it with.... Welded wire $43.00, tarp $23.00, welding wire for the welder $24.00, hindge and latch $5.00

 

[chickletteSarge]

I had planned on putting chicken wire 4 feet up on all sides but that was to keep small chicks in. Hardware cloth is so expensive, it may be a little while. Maybe a 2 foot piece of tin around the bottom. I started this because I had free pipe to build it with.... Welded wire $43.00, tarp $23.00, welding wire for the welder $24.00, hindge and latch $5.00

hey i only spent 25-30 bux max on all 4 of my pens! all are made out of pallets and the only thing i paid for is the chicken wire and nails.... oh wait... i bought a 150ft roll so make that 75 bux total... we will see how much the PVC pipe tractor will run me....

 

[Cockle-Dood]

hey i only spent 25-30 bux max on all 4 of my pens! all are made out of pallets and the only thing i paid for is the chicken wire and nails.... oh wait... i bought a 150ft roll so make that 75 bux total... we will see how much the PVC pipe tractor will run me....

Keep me updated on that! i have been playing with the idea of how to put tegther a mobile PVC tractor...need to some input and ill let others do the trial and error side of the project!

 

[chickletteSarge]

im an engineer bro! read my siggy!