Tractor versus Coop

[wolfandfinch]

So it can really describe the run as well as their housing. Interesting!

I live in the city. Mostly we need to worry about eagles and coyotes. I assume I can only let them free range when I can supervise them? I also don't want them t to eat all my veggies and fruits LOL

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

We are new to chickens this year and have a 4x8 tractor with a movable run. It is fully insulated and moves quite easily. We have parked it for the winter and our 8 girls have been doing fine in it so far. You can see it on my byc page. The tractor is always warmer than outside and I open the pop door every day unless it is snowing hard or extremely windy and super cold. My dh made a cookie tin water heater that we have plugged into an exterior extension cord. Works beautifully even on the coldest of days we have had. We chose a tractor because we are new to chickens and wanted to move the chickens to fresh grass every day and also not to have lots of money tied up into something we might not use. However, I want more chickens now(darn chicken math!) so I am looking to build a permanent coop in the spring. I think it is all a matter of choice for each person. We will still be using the tractor for our current flock. As long as my girls are healthy, happy and giving me eggs, it works for me!

 

[hallerlake]

I live in the city, too. My fence is high enough to keep out coyotes, but hawks and eagles can be a problem. No fence will keep out raccoons and possum. I only let mine free range when I'm home. I find it very helpful to listen to the crows. If they're making a ruckus, there's a reason.





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[BlakesFarm]

You need to protect them from raccoon, birds of preay, and dog atleast. You might not know you have any preditors until you get poultry. When I first got my poultry I did not notice any preditors, but now I see hawks and dogs are the top preditors around here.


My Old coop:

I have a non movable coop that my guinea fowl were in, and during lunch (I let them out at 2pm to free range) a dog got in and killed all 5 of my guinea fowl! As the old saying is, Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong. Build the strongest coop you can, made of wood, wire mesh, and locks on every door.


I thought that my coop for my guinea fowl was strong, but acording to the dog, it was a jail break.

The new coop that I am gona build in the spring will be verry, verry strong with wire mesh, sturdy wood, etc... and it will have barbed wire on it too.







.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
If your yard is small, and you do not wish it to become either bare or covered in poo, may I suggest a fixed coop and run, and then either let them loose in your yard when you can supervise them or make a light "day tractor" so they can get out on grass sometimes (although even for that I would recommend some measure of supervision, unless you have a truly dogproof yard)

(e.t.a. -- BlakesFarm, I *love* your .sig line, "Life is simpler when you plow around the stump". That's just a great phrase

)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[hallerlake]

This my tractor. The ramp pulls up at night.

I've never seen a raccoon in my yard, but I know we have them. One got the neighbors's hen. Maybe the scent of my dog keeps them out.

 

[wolfandfinch]

we have tons of raccoons too. I'm definitely thinking fixed coop, with a hardcloth-enclosed run, and either a raised bed or sunken metal roofing to deal with burrowing predators.