Using a chicken tractor that won't fit the whole flock

[MississippiChicks]

I have 11 chickens, all mixed breeds standards and bantams. They've got a nice large coop and enclosed run, but I'd like to build a small chicken tractor that I could use on raised beds in the garden or other places around the yard seasonally. I can't free range because of the neighborhood and my german shepherd.

The tractor would need to be small enough that me and my husband could move it by hand, so probably 3-4 chickens in it. I'd move it daily when it was in use. My question is can I pull a few chickens from the flock seasonally to put in the tractor? How do other people use small chicken tractors when you have a medium sized flock?

 

[SandyRiverChick]

An alternative to a tractor would be temporary fencing. I have large rolls of chicken wire with woodent stakes attached every few feet with a stapler. It's easy to roll back up and it's easy to roll out, stand up and then I drive a few metal stakes in the ground to help support it since the wooden stakes just keep it standing but are not great for driving in the ground. It is just so much easier than a tractor and then all of them can stay together since they don't love being separated. This works all day for pullets but when they start to lay, whether its temporary pens or tractors you have to consider a nest box. That's why my chicken wire rolls are so big, I make it go all the back to the coop.

 

[MississippiChicks]

Thank you! yes that might work better. I'd considered portable electric netting to do something like you suggested too

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you! yes that might work better. I'd considered portable electric netting to do something like you suggested too

I like portable electric netting, though I have considered making some over-the-garden-bed pens specifically to work the raised beds and to separate breeding groups.

It hasn't happened yet, but there's no reason for it to not work if I were to plan it carefully.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I second (or is it third?) portable netting. So many uses.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think that you will wind up with a lot of garden soil kicked out of your garden beds?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Several years back there was a thread on here about someone that put a "tractor" over their raised beds in the fall/winter to prepare them for planting. The chickens would clean up the vegetation and fertilize the soil. By the time planting season came around the poop had broken down so it was safe to plant. They did not move it every day since they wanted the vegetation to be cleaned up and poop to be deposited. I think how often you would need to move it would depend on how many chickens and how big the tractor was. Whether it was over the raised bed or on the ground I'd suggest how often you move it would need to be based on your observations and not blindly just guess at a schedule.

How you would build that tractor would depend on how your raised beds were built and what size they were. As best I can remember all those raised beds were 4' x 8' and built in a way that they could sit a tractor on top of the raised beds and be held in place by cleats and screws so wind and predators could not knock them off.

My question is can I pull a few chickens from the flock seasonally to put in the tractor? How do other people use small chicken tractors when you have a medium sized flock?

I think your concern is about removing chickens for a time period and reintegrating them with your main flock. Some people do that all of the time. One example, during breeding season people remove their chickens into breeding pens isolated from the flock and put them back in with the flock when breeding season is over. If you only have hens this is easier than if two or more roosters are involved. You may be able to just turn the hens in your tractor back in with your flock when you are ready but I could see putting that tractor in the run for a week of "see but don't touch" for a week.

I use electric netting and like it. It has stopped all ground based predators. It does not stop flying predators but luckily those are not a problem for me. Flying predators are a serious problem for some people. Why were you considering putting a tractor over you raised beds? Electric netting around the area will not concentrate their foraging or poop in those gardens. It is highly unlikely the chickens will let you grow anything in those raised beds if they have access.

Do you grow a winter garden? Where you are (thanks or providing that) you can probably grow beets, carrots, turnips, radishes, collard greens, kale, chard, and other cool weather crops if you are willing to cover them during a frost or freeze. Maybe brussels sprouts, cauliflower, or broccoli. If the chickens are roaming among them you won't be able to.

I don't know enough about your set-up or goals to recommend one way over another but either can work if it is set up right.

 

[MississippiChicks]

Yes, I do grow a winter garden. The vegetable garden is fenced in on the other side of the yard from the chickens. My thought was to put a few chickens in select unused beds in tractors. I'm not sure it's worth the trouble.. I'm leaning toward just enlarging their day run with either electric netting or a permanent welded wire fence with electric wire on the outside. And keep them separate from vegetable beds. We do have hawks but our dog tends to keep them away mostly.

How long has your electric netting lasted?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I moved and gave it away but it was in good shape after 6 years.

 

[MississippiChicks]

Ok thanks for the advice!