| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| herbquilter |
Posted - Apr 06 2007 : 2:35:05 PM
Has anyone made and used a chicken tractor or portable chicken pen?
I've want to get one or two made. My DH doesn't like them roaming around, so I thought we'd try this method.
Thanks!!!
Blessings,
Kristine ~ Mother of Many & Herbalist
www.herbalmomma.com
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| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Libbie |
Posted - Apr 12 2007 : 8:41:31 PM
Mine are layers - I put a little nesting box in each "tractor," and all of the hens seem to take turns and lay their eggs in it. I love that they all use the same one - that way I don't have to put a while row of them in...
XOXO, Libbie
"All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar..." - Helen Hayes |
| greentea |
Posted - Apr 12 2007 : 12:28:11 PM
Are your chickens layer or broilers. If you have layers do you have to build a cubby for them to lay in?
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| herbquilter |
Posted - Apr 09 2007 : 5:38:37 PM
Libbie,
Thanks for that, I think we'll do one with a top door for the chickens, & a end door for the turkey's.
We got 16 rir & 4 bronze turkey's today.
Blessings,
Kristine ~ Mother of Many & Herbalist
www.herbalmomma.com
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| Libbie |
Posted - Apr 09 2007 : 09:25:48 AM
The doors in the top of my tractors are large enough to pop the guys and gals right in the top. Hoisting the chickens in is no problem - the lambs, however, are a little more challenging...
XOXO, Libbie
"All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar..." - Helen Hayes |
| herbquilter |
Posted - Apr 09 2007 : 08:55:07 AM
You gals are awesome!
I never would have thought of using pvc. How do you all get the chickens (lambs) in?
The chicken tractor book is great.
Blessings,
Kristine ~ Mother of Many & Herbalist
www.herbalmomma.com
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| Libbie |
Posted - Apr 09 2007 : 08:26:09 AM
I have three chicken tractors and a "lamb tractor," too! I just love them. The book that started me off was "Chicken Tractor" (appropriately named ) by Andy Lee, and we just sort of modified things from there. They are 8x4x3' (the 3' being the "tall" part). That size was basically due to the convenient size of lumber. They're covered with chicken wire on all sides except the bottom, and have tin sided shelters on one corner that we face toward the prevailing winds. On the top, there is a plywood door that has hinges to lift it up - it's big enough that if I need to climb in, I can. I just love this idea - our chickens roam around the farm freely until it's garden season, then, so they don't eat everything that comes up, we "tractor" them through the summer until harvest is over. The lambs (two little Icelandic/Navajo-Churros from Aunt Jenny) go into the lamb tractor (12x12x4') and mow the grass in the orchard every now and then, and then go out to pasture.
It's great! I've even named them - the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria are the chicken tractors, and the lamb tractor is the Ark.
XOXO, Libbie
"All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar..." - Helen Hayes |
| Annab |
Posted - Apr 09 2007 : 03:44:25 AM
We have 2. The first has a 2x4 used for a perch on the inside that doubles for a lift we can pick up and move. It's cumbersome but it works.
Our second is a bit beefier and come moving day, can be lifted up with a small dolly and wheels placed on 2 welded axles. Jacked up like this, I can swing and position the coop around by myself. |
| babs |
Posted - Apr 07 2007 : 09:04:29 AM
I made one using PVC pipe and chicken wire. It has no bottom and no top. It spent a great deal of time inside the large dome tent corraling baby chickens or a duck. I liked unzipping the tent to get in more than lifting boards and wire or other (guy fixing). It was terribly handy during our annual bird sale I could just reach in and grab what I needed. The bonus was the ability to attach hanging feeders anywhere I wanted with a bit of scrap wire.
Babs
Hatching Eggs: www.countryegg.com
& Home Goods: www.mugwortmaggies.etsy.com
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| ThymeForEweFarm |
Posted - Apr 07 2007 : 07:17:26 AM
Our first tractors were overkill. We wanted to be sure they were sturdy. They were - and darned heavy. I'm replacing them this year with PVC pipe on wooden baseboards. I'll cover them with chicken wire and cover that with a light weight cloth that will give them shade.
Robin
www.outdoorwriter.wordpress.com
www.thymeforewe.com
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| happymama58 |
Posted - Apr 06 2007 : 6:21:36 PM
We're doing this and know several other people who do. The absolute best source of information on this (and believe me, I've looked at every website, book -- thank goodness for interlibrary loan -- article, etc. on the topic) is Joel Salatin's book titled "Pasture Poultry Profits". The subtitle is something like "how you can net $25,000 in 6 months . . ." It is absolutely fantastic -- step by step for everything related to this, great pictures that show what he's talking about, pitfalls to be aware of, the whole nine yards. I rarely recommend a book this enthusiastically, but this one is unbelievably helpful.
Some people search for happiness; others create it.
Please visit me at www.marykay.com/pmiinch |
| Marybeth |
Posted - Apr 06 2007 : 5:56:09 PM
if you do a google search on Chicken Tractors you will find many many and many more. MB
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com www.holyhouses-day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
