Tractors

[Bookworm0124]

Now that I've culled a few of my birds I'm looking into raising some meat birds this fall. What do y'all use for pens? I was thinking a PVC tractor so that it will be light enough to move. Pictures of your set ups would be wonderful

 

[DellaMyDarling]

I think this is our next project too.

We have predator problems.
I'm thinking about having a paving stone "home base" to put tractor on at night, and putting them on pasture during the day.
A lady I frequently buy from has a 2x4 framed base with PVC and tarp, chicken wire arch over it. Due to my predators, if have to upgrade from chicken wire to hardware cloth but otherwise I like her base design.

What I'm not sure about is if the meat birds need a "night box" to get into or if they just chicken puddle on the ground or what...which I'd feel bad about if they were on stone pavers, even though they're destined for meat...

Hmm...

 

[Bookworm0124]

Interesting idea. I have predators as well. I was looking at a plan that has metal roofing material on one end that closes up at night for predator protection allowing for chicken wire on the other half. It was a bit larger than I was thinking of doing so I may try scaling it down smaller.

 

[boro farmer]

Here's what I use. It's 5'x5'x32" high. Has a 18" wire apron around bottom so predators can't dig under and hardware cloth all around bottom sides so they can't reach in. I also stake it down .Used it 4 years so far.

 

[Bookworm0124]

Here's what I use. It's 5'x5'x32" high. Has a 18" wire apron around bottom so predators can't dig under and hardware cloth all around bottom sides so they can't reach in. I also stake it down .Used it 4 years so far.

Great idea. So much easier than some things I was looking at. And it's easy enough for one person to move?

 

[boro farmer]

Yes very easy to move by myself. I always keep a tarp draped half way over for shade /shelter then completely cover it at night,open in the morning. This picture I hadn't put it on yet,but it's always on there for them

 

[Steven Bussell]

My opinion is even if they are being raised for food they should be comfortable and treated the same as a pet. I understand not getting to attack to them.
Our flock is only going on 5 weeks. Our grandchildren know in about 3 years hopefully before they have health issues we will be rotating our flock. Until that time comes we will provide them with love and care

 

[Bookworm0124]

My opinion is even if they are being raised for food they should be comfortable and treated the same as a pet. I understand not getting to attack to them.
Our flock is only going on 5 weeks. Our grandchildren know in about 3 years hopefully before they have health issues we will be rotating our flock. Until that time comes we will provide them with love and care

I agree. I'd be doing a big enough tractor to give them room, but I need something easy enough for me to move by myself so I was looking for ideas. I'm also only looking for 10-15 at a time. I understand that they're requirements are different than my layers and they will not be able to get up the ramp into my coop. So I'm looking for ideas for their own set up. Do you have a picture of your set up?

 

[paintedChix]

Besides the one's posted right here on BYC, there are a number of them on YouTube.

2 chicken tractors < $100
John Suscovich - 120 broilers in Tractor
Easy DIY chicken Tractors
Suscovich tractor - sweet mods
Chicken tractor - good design - JL - Wish I could get my hands on some of that "sheeting" - our lowes/home depot don't seem to carry it...
Stoney Ridge Farmer - PVC tractor
$5 chicken tractor - Justin Rhodes AFT - Wholesome Roots

My CP hoop coops (walk-in) meant to be tractors, didn't work well on our new property. They became permanent 8x8' coop/pens w/ access to rotating paddocks or moving tractors for the birds currently in the pens.

I didn't want to hoop one and took a look at the CP & now have 2 (not quite complete) CP "A-Frame" tractors. They are 5x8', currently wired with 2x4" fencing (will be putting some 1/2" HC on it too). They are on 2x4" frames, 2 lag bolts on each end. The CP is attached to frame using fencing staples, they are strapped at top with haystring.

The gates on ends aren't done yet, so 2x4" wire is zip tied to the A-frame and just tucked behind fence staples (1 end on 1 tractor is completely strapped on using hay string, the other end on same is partially done. It will be removed when I do the gate.) The gates will be 1/2 way up the open A-frame ends and will open downwards allowing access to water & nest boxes (when ready to start laying). The top will be a solid triangle - not sure yet how I will be building it. Playing with ideas - trying to reuse things and keep it light weight.

I use tubs at the moment for watering - filled by bucket or hose. May build a water nipple bucket, not sure yet. Feed currently goes in grass - where they clean it up and scratch thru the grass. I currently have 6 chickens in each tractor -but as they mature, I really think I will need to divide it up and do no more than 4. We'll see. I could be wrong. These are chickens that will be in these permanently as breeding groups - even during the winter here in NC. I found I just couldn't free range - lost too many birds during the day while i was at work... in the 4 month period last fall/winter.

I will add pics and eventually get my coop/tractor/DLM article/pages done. The last two that I started managed to start disappeared and I just haven't re-done them...

 

[Steven Bussell]

I agree. I'd be doing a big enough tractor to give them room, but I need something easy enough for me to move by myself so I was looking for ideas. I'm also only looking for 10-15 at a time. I understand that they're requirements are different than my layers and they will not be able to get up the ramp into my coop. So I'm looking for ideas for their own set up. Do you have a picture of your set up?

My set up is a raised fixed coop for layers. This our first time raising chickens and ducks.