Hi all, this is a great site! This is my first time raising chickens. Anyway, most chicken tractors I've seen don't have wire bottoms but a few do. My yard is not completely flat. It's hilly and there are lots of divots, tire ruts, etc. If I was diligent I could pull the tractor to a location where it seems to sit secure but that would take extra effort, plus in the summer the grass can be very tall and it would be difficult to tell. So chicken experts, What do you recommend, open or closed bottom? Thanks in advance! Kent
No wire on bottom. If there is wire there, you will have one heck of a time MOVING the tractor (chickens are supposed to walk along as you move it -- with a wire bottom, their weight will pin the tractor to the ground so you *can't* move it easily, and you can injure or amputate their toes by accident). Also, scratching in the dirt/grass is such an essential part of chicken behavior it seems a shame to shut them off from it. Many people use an apron of wire lying on the ground on the *outside* of the tractor sides to prevent digging in. See discussion of design of this on other threads. Good luck, have fun, Pat
Oh, yes, I couldn't imagine moving mine with wire on the bottom. As I move it the chickens run around all over. It would surely result in an injury! Our backyard is hilly/ sloped and uneven and so far (newbie, for sure) it has been ok. If there is a hole I just prop a cement block up against it. I can see the benefits to both the tractor and the fixed coop now.
I'm in the process of of building a tractor and was thinking about this too. Would help protect them in case one the the neighbors pits tried to knock it over, but also the thought of them getting hurt when moving it especially over my uneven yard. Instead, I'm going to put a removeable skirt on it that I'll tack down to keep them out.
