Chicken tractor for pullets, thoughts?

[chickiebean85]

I am getting baby chicks soon from meyer hatchery I have a inside brooder set up but once they are fully feathered and not quite ready to be put in with the big chickens I was thinking about a chicken tractor but one thing stopped me, the safety. Are chicken tractors safe enough for a even temporary solution. Are there any that are safer than others and what other solutions will work beside getting a chicken tractor? I was thinking a xxl dog crate but what about a pen?

 

[DobieLover]

I am getting baby chicks soon from meyer hatchery I have a inside brooder set up but once they are fully feathered and not quite ready to be put in with the big chickens I was thinking about a chicken tractor but one thing stopped me, the safety. Are chicken tractors safe enough for a even temporary solution. Are there any that are safer than others and what other solutions will work beside getting a chicken tractor? I was thinking a xxl dog crate but what about a pen?

What size is your coop?
Can you post pictures of it?
How many hens do you currently have and how many pullet chicks did you order?
I would brood directly in the coop with a brooder plate if at all possible as you can start integration at 4-5 weeks old and they can be roosting with them by 6 or 7 weeks old. It eliminates the need for any special housing other than a sectioned off area of the coop that will be the brooder.

 

[chickiebean85]

Well we are building the new house next month. I don't have many hens left due to old age or predator I have two hens left and two roosters but one hen and one rooster live in another house due to the two roosters not getting along. I am getting 6 chicks. Not sure what tractor I was going to get trying to get suggestions on the safest one.

 

[chickiebean85]

We are building a new house for the big chickens it is either going to be 5x8 or 6x8.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'd personally go 6x8. Most economical building materials come in 4' or 8' dimensions, so if you plan around that you can reduce cutting and waste. A 6' isn't bad as you can half a sheet of plywood to get a 2' wide strip. 2' cutoffs can be used for nests and such, at least the frame. You get a larger coop for about the same cost. In Maine you might be better off with a bit more room in the coop this winter. When you come up with your design share it with us so we can critique it. That might save you some problems later.

The biggest safety problem with a tractor is that they set on the ground and it is really hard to stop digging predators and still retain the ability to move them around. Most of the time, the ground is not level so there are gaps beneath bottom of the tractor and the ground. Certain critters like raccoons, skunks, and possum don't need much of a gap to just push through, let alone need to dig. Lots of people use tractors and don't have these problems but there is a risk.

I don't know how old those chicks will be by the time you get the coop built. Life often gets in the way of building coops, it often takes you a lot longer to finish than you expect. It can take an effort to build a tractor too. It sounds like you are going to be integrating the chicks with at least two adults too, that takes more room. A separate shelter can come in really handy for integrating or build one in the coop. in the coop it doesn't have to be predator proof. Those chicks won't need a coop with roosts and nests to start with, they just need a shelter. I don't know how much of a constraint money is.

My first thought is to use the time and materials you were going to use to build a tractor and instead get that coop built before your weather turns. I don't know what your constraints are to delay that, but if you can then decide on a design and get to it. You can add roosts and nests later if that helps you get it finished. The hardest part of getting it finished is often getting started. Either leave your older chickens where they are now for a while or build a shelter inside that coop to house your chicks while you integrate.

I don't know of any specific tractor design that is any safer than others. You can look at a hoop coop design, those are often fairly lightweight so you can move them around. You can build a box out of 2x4's or even 2x2's to save weight if you are going to actually move it. Cover one end with plywood or some paneling to give them shelter from the weather and cover the other end with hardware cloth to save some weight and let them have lots of light. No nests, roosts, or pop door needed, just a simple box with the part on the ground open. 24" tall is plenty. The door is probably the hardest part to build. Access inside would be horrible but it's only temporary. The more complicated you make it the better building the coop looks.

 

[chickiebean85]

I'd personally go 6x8. Most economical building materials come in 4' or 8' dimensions, so if you plan around that you can reduce cutting and waste. A 6' isn't bad as you can half a sheet of plywood to get a 2' wide strip. 2' cutoffs can be used for nests and such, at least the frame. You get a larger coop for about the same cost. In Maine you might be better off with a bit more room in the coop this winter. When you come up with your design share it with us so we can critique it. That might save you some problems later.

The biggest safety problem with a tractor is that they set on the ground and it is really hard to stop digging predators and still retain the ability to move them around. Most of the time, the ground is not level so there are gaps beneath bottom of the tractor and the ground. Certain critters like raccoons, skunks, and possum don't need much of a gap to just push through, let alone need to dig. Lots of people use tractors and don't have these problems but there is a risk.

I don't know how old those chicks will be by the time you get the coop built. Life often gets in the way of building coops, it often takes you a lot longer to finish than you expect. It can take an effort to build a tractor too. It sounds like you are going to be integrating the chicks with at least two adults too, that takes more room. A separate shelter can come in really handy for integrating or build one in the coop. in the coop it doesn't have to be predator proof. Those chicks won't need a coop with roosts and nests to start with, they just need a shelter. I don't know how much of a constraint money is.

My first thought is to use the time and materials you were going to use to build a tractor and instead get that coop built before your weather turns. I don't know what your constraints are to delay that, but if you can then decide on a design and get to it. You can add roosts and nests later if that helps you get it finished. The hardest part of getting it finished is often getting started. Either leave your older chickens where they are now for a while or build a shelter inside that coop to house your chicks while you integrate.

I don't know of any specific tractor design that is any safer than others. You can look at a hoop coop design, those are often fairly lightweight so you can move them around. You can build a box out of 2x4's or even 2x2's to save weight if you are going to actually move it. Cover one end with plywood or some paneling to give them shelter from the weather and cover the other end with hardware cloth to save some weight and let them have lots of light. No nests, roosts, or pop door needed, just a simple box with the part on the ground open. 24" tall is plenty. The door is probably the hardest part to build. Access inside would be horrible but it's only temporary. The more complicated you make it the better building the coop looks.

I have a well built run already but my cousin which is a carpenter is building the coop so I have faith between his suggestions and mine it will be amazing. He has a source to get free and discounted wood. I want it to be quaker style and off the ground I am just not sure how much I think 8" my biggest concern is safety and air flow. 6x8 probably will be the size because we have more winter than we don't and they will spend a good amount of time inside. My coop size now is probably 4x8 or 5x8 but its a old coop I have had it 15 years and it is falling apart.

 

[3KillerBs]

Not sure what tractor I was going to get trying to get suggestions on the safest one.

If you're wanting to buy a tractor it's nearly impossible to purchase any form of premade chicken housing that's actually suited to house chickens.

Almost all of it is too small, badly-made, and badly-ventilated.

If you're willing to build, this is a very good design: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-hoop-coop-chicken-tractor.72211/

Certain critters like raccoons, skunks, and possum don't need much of a gap to just push through, let alone need to dig.

Snakes too. I lost 7 out of 12 chicks to 2 blacksnakes this spring. I'd *thought* I had all the gaps closed up. Then I *thought* I had plugged up the one I'd missed. Then I put a floor onto the brooder -- losing my ability to clean it easily by rolling it onto it's side.

my biggest concern is safety and air flow.

Show your cousin the carpenter this article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

 

[chickiebean85]

If you're wanting to buy a tractor it's nearly impossible to purchase any form of premade chicken housing that's actually suited to house chickens.

Almost all of it is too small, badly-made, and badly-ventilated.

If you're willing to build, this is a very good design: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-hoop-coop-chicken-tractor.72211/



Snakes too. I lost 7 out of 12 chicks to 2 blacksnakes this spring. I'd *thought* I had all the gaps closed up. Then I *thought* I had plugged up the one I'd missed. Then I put a floor onto the brooder -- losing my ability to clean it easily by rolling it onto it's side.



Show your cousin the carpenter this article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

Thanks for the info, the ventilation article was especially helpful.

 

[3KillerBs]

Thanks for the info, the ventilation article was especially helpful.

You're welcome.

We learn from those before us and pass on what we've learned.