sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts
Posted - Jan 14 2011 : 06:49:45 AM
howdy girls, i just know some of you with tractors will have ideas. my son just gave me a large flatbed trailer. like a canvas waiting to be painted. i am so excited about my chicken tractor project. so i need pros cons ideas from you all. i have about 6 acres separated into 2 pastures. we have a tractor to pull it around. so i need ideas for making one. storing feed, their roosts, nest boxes etc. i do have a metal irrigation trailer to use, i think its to heavy. have to ask papa about that. i have 33 gallon galvanized garbage cans for food etc over there. i am so happy about this. there is so much maintenance on the poop in pasture. this way the chickens will scatter it. i will truly have pasture free range chicken eggs. well when i get my chickens that is. oh how i need chickens that lay. well anyhoot any ideas girls? i want a farmgirl chicken tractor that is stylish and cute. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm farm girl #1014
I have some ideas Sherry. I would say to build the nesting boxes into the hen house part of the tractor. We have had trouble with our nesting boxes getting rain water down in them. We put shingles along the top of the boxes but with all the excitement of checking for eggs so often....they just gave up keeping any water out. They bent and then cracked. We did caulk the hardy board but it is not enough. I'd build them inside next time. We were thinking of kids checking all the time and getting it low enough. Also, we have to take out the water to move the tractor. Make sure you have room to get in and do that easily. We also have to remove the walkway up into the hen house to move the tractor, we just slide it into their door and lay it on their floor for the move. Their food hangs so that is not a problem, it just sways as we pull them along. Sometimes one will get bopped on the buns if she is not watching out. Mine is not stylish or cute. It is a tank! But we painted it purty enough. They dig dust bath holes so quick that we now have bare spots in our grassy areas and have decided to give it up to the chickens. I couldn't mow it with all the little rocks that are exposed now. If it's pasture land would you have to fill the holes so large animals don't trip. I have tripped in their holes.
Hope this helps~ Stephanie
That white blob is our rooster Robin playing with a volleyball.
"A cabin with plenty of food is better than a hungry castle." Irish Quote
chicken tractor plans> help?
Posted - Jan 14 2011 : 06:49:45 AM
