Tractor or permanent run/coop?

[Marthab1953]

Have you thought of a hoop house? Mobile like a chicken tractor, but not as restrictive on the chickens' movement.

I like that!

 

[Marthab1953]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[BantamLover21]

Glad you joined us!

 

[Kataloo]

I think I will go with a permanent coop to start with and if I can afford add a tractor later on. I do intend to have a covered run. Now my decision is to build it in the spot that is better for summer, or the winter spot. The winter spot has shade pretty much all day as it would be on the north side of the garage. But it would be protected from winter winds and I could bring electricity to the coop quite easily during winter without running an extension cord. Being closer to the house, it would be easier to go out to attend to the chickens when we have sub-zero weather. I wish I could figure out a way to keep the water from freezing that didn't involve an extension cord. My husband doesn't think that would be safe.

 

[gander007]

 

[chickie farmer]

you should at least have windows on the south side of the coop. The sun will help heat up the coop in the winter and the sun won't beat in the windows in the summer. In the winter, there would be little shade because of the leaves being gone. just my opinion. You will need more shade in the summer than the winter. You wouldn't have to worry about the winter winds as long as your coop doesn't have cracks where air can blow on the chickens in the winter. Mine is insulated and keeps warmer inside than outside. As for electricity, I'd have electricity put in the coop so you could heat the water and keep it from freezing and saving more trips to the coop. Unless you don't mind giving then fresh water a couple times a day. Others don't mind watering them this way. A lot of people don't use electricity. Myself, I like to be sure my hens aren't to cold when it gets well below 0 and windy.
Be sure the chickens can't get to your wires or plugins if you decide to go this route. At least they would be getting fresh water constantly. It's up to you. good luck.

 

[Kataloo]

You have some good thoughts to consider. I will check into how much it would cost to run electricity out to the coop. Is that you feeding a fawn? What an experience! How lucky are you.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

Welcome to BYC!

I can only advise you based on my experience but this has worked out well for me. I started with a tractor as I only had 3 girls I purchased as pullets to begin with. A tractor was more economical up front and it allowed me time to learn by hands-on experience what I wanted in a permanent coop.

After a few months with the tractor I realized I really enjoyed the hens and wanted to add to my flock and got baby chicks last spring. That's when we began the permanent coop. The three big hens were moved into the permanent coop and the chicks went into the tractor after they had feathered out. The chicks stayed in the tractor - which was positioned right near the large coop run so the two flocks could see each other - until they were of such size to go into the large coop with the older hens.

I use both the big coop and the tractor together. The tractor is a great place for separating a sick or injured bird and for keeping feathered out chicks until they're of such size as they're ready to join the flock. Pretty sure I could brood baby chicks in the tractor coop portion, too. The tractor can also be moved away from the large coop should I wish to quarantine newly acquired chickens there before adding them to my flock.

For me it was ideal to begin with the tractor and then move to the larger coop. Can't imagine not having my tractor! Another plus, the tractor is a great storage spot when not in use. Right now mine has a bale of pine shavings in the coop portion and 4 lawn/leaf bags of leaves in the run portion to be used in the large coop.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[chickie farmer]

kataloo. Yes it is. It came out of the woods and saw me in the back yard. It followed me everywhere I went thinking I was it's mother. All it did was constantly cry. It was kind of wobbly so I figure it was a day or two old. I called the dnr and they told me to take it back into the woods then run. So I did and it came back again. I hid for about 45 minutes hoping the mother would come back but she didn't. The baby came back and it kept crying so I got a rubber glove and poked a hole in it and gave it some milk. The poor thing went nuts over the milk. Well, after 2 days the mother never came back and it died. I'll never do that again. Next time I'll call a park that has deer and see if they will raise it. It tore me apart.