Tractor vs stationary in urban area

[JacquieJUF]

We are first time chicken raisers here in an urban area with a decent sized back yard. We are allowed and only have 4 hens. My hubby and I are debating on which would be better for our chickens--a tractor or a coop with a stationary run.

I see the pros of a tractor being able to move them around to eat things in our yard. The cons, the space is not THAT big so they would be circulating around the same spaces often. Then there's winter.

My hubby sees the pros of a stationary run. Having a familiar place for the winter, keeping them at a distance from neighboring barking dogs, and not moving something around our yard constantly. Cons of a stationary run would be mud in the spring and fall, and then ice in winter, after the grass is all torn away by the hens.

Are tractors condusive in urban yards? As I type this I am understanding my husband's points about a stationary run better What are your experiences?

 

[Battlepants]

When you say that your yard isn't THAT big, how many positions in the yard would the tractor be moved to? If this number is low, yea, you will probably get a decent number of dead spots in the grass.

Alternatively, if you go with a stationary coop, is your yard small enough to reasonably net over the whole thing, effectively making the whole yard a secured run?

 

[JacquieJUF]

When you say that your yard isn't THAT big, how many positions in the yard would the tractor be moved to? If this number is low, yea, you will probably get a decent number of dead spots in the grass.

Alternatively, if you go with a stationary coop, is your yard small enough to reasonably net over the whole thing, effectively making the whole yard a secured run?

Our yard is not small enough to net over it. We have probably four, maybe five spots to move the tractor. Although my husband would probably say only two or three. I'm forever an optimist!

I'm wondering if a stationary run with one of those tunnel runs a couple days a week would be better?

 

[aart]

Cons of a stationary run would be mud in the spring and fall, and then ice in winter, after the grass is all torn away by the hens.

This is key, IMO. Winter can be miserable without the proper housing.
You'll need good bedding, as well as managing any drainage issues, in the run to avoid mud/muck. A solid roofed run will take care of most snow and ice.

Welcome to BYC! @JacquieJUF
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[JacquieJUF]

This is key, IMO. Winter can be miserable without the proper housing.
You'll need good bedding, as well as managing any drainage issues, in the run to avoid mud/muck. A solid roofed run will take care of most snow and ice.

Welcome to BYC! @JacquieJUF
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 3090409

Thank you aart! That is really helpful to us. I have updated my profile too (Mid-MI), thanks!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Stationary.

I say that for three reasons.

One, Urban zoning routinely restricts how close livestock like chickens can be to any particular property line. So, if you wish to do this lawfully and have that defense against potential neighbor complaints, your yard isn't as big as you think it is.

Two, your yard really isn't as big as you think it is. Even a couple of chickens can absolutely destroy an area in short order. To keep their place mobile, it has to be light, which means small. SO their dustbathing, scratching, etc activities are all concentrated in a small area, greatly maginifying the apparent damage. Sort of like when a puppy has a favorite "spot" and you end up with ugly bare patches in the yard, your chickens will do the same to your lawn.

Three, seasonally, there will be times of year when for reasons of weather you can't practically use it, and the area it covers will be of limited value to the chickens anyways - no matter how much you might feel like bundling up, going out in the cold and the wet and the powder to clear an area and move the pen.

For those reasons, I'm going to recommend build bigger, build sturdier, cover the run, and sacrifice a small area of the yard to preserve the rest for your use, as well as reasons of aesthetics. You can always build replacable sprouting trays and the like if you want to provide a constant source of green for your girls.

 

[JacquieJUF]

Oo, I need to look at the zoning again about property lines. Thanks for all your input!

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC.

Climate matters tremendously, especially when it comes to housing, and you are in a place that would normally be considered a severe winter area. Here's a useful article for you: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/

Here is some general information for you:

The Usual Guidelines

For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

• 4 square feet in the coop (.37 square meters)
• 10 square feet in the run (.93 square meters),
• 1 linear foot of roost (.3 meters),
• 1/4 of a nest box,
• And 1 square foot (.09 square meters) of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

4 hens

• 16 square feet in the coop. 4'x4' is the only really practical build for this given the common dimensions of lumber.
• 4 feet of roost
• 40 square feet in the run. 4'x10' or 5'x8'. 6'x6' is a bit too small, 6'x8' is more generous and easier to build than 5'x8'.
• 4 square feet of ventilation. A 2'x2' window is theoretically enough, but in practice doesn't create any air FLOW so better to spread the venting around (and even better to exceed the minimums, especially in warm climates).
• 2 nest boxes, to give the hens a choice

Just so you can see what those numbers actually look like, this is a coop specifically designed to meet those minimums for 4 hens: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-little-monitor-coop.76275/

As mentioned above, a tractor isn't practical in a small yard and in the winter. Instead, a good-sized coop with, if possible, an over-sized, covered run would be a good option for you.

In addition to the practical considerations, it's probably easier to build a permanent coop in such a way that it meets your neighborhood aesthetic standards and is an ornament to your property rather than an eyesore.

 

[JacquieJUF]

Thank you so much. My husband will especially appreciate your specific recommendations.

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you so much. My husband will especially appreciate your specific recommendations.

We're always happy to see people asking questions before they get the chickens so we can help you get your chicken adventures off to a good start.

Will you be DIYing your coop?