Chicken tractor, pen, or coop?

[LunaMarieWolf]

I am going to be moving in a few months and I need help on what to fix up for my chickens to live in.

I have been doing research on chicken coop and pens, free range, and chicken tractors. I am going to be moving my chickens from free range and a coop to a sturdy metal wire dog pen. I have already made plans to add wood and more metal to make it a secure weatherproof coop so my babies won't suffer in the cold winter.

The only thing is the run attached to the pen is way too small to hold my chickens. It was built to contain a dog so it has normal fencing and has an open top.

Since it may take too much money to extend the run and predator proof it (we have hawks that like live there), would a tractor be better?

I am just worried about my chickens feeling cooped up going from free range to tractor.

 

[Farmgal101]

Chicken tractor could be a decision to make. I've never owned a chicken tractor.I just free range and put them up at night...I've heard that there great for composting the grass each time you move it.Good luck to you and your flock!hope all the plans come together!

 

[21hens-incharge]

How many birds?
What breeds?

Building a chicken tractor can be reasonable cost wise.
Have you seen the hoop coops?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threadloom/search?query=Hoop coop&tab=620

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

Chicken tractors are great. But if you have snow in the winter you can't use them. You can visually see the difference between grass/pasture/yard that has been in the chicken tractor and grass that hasn't. Best fertilizer ever.

 

[LunaMarieWolf]

How many birds?
What breeds?

Building a chicken tractor can be reasonable cost wise.
Have you seen the hoop coops?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threadloom/search?query=Hoop coop&tab=620

I have multiple breeds. Barred rocks, Rhode Islands Reds, Sex Links, Easter Eggers, Buff orpingtons. I am going to expand my flock so I will get more after I move. If I have the resources and money I may make multiple tractors or a bigger tractor.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

IMHO, I would make more than one chicken tractor. Not one big one. It'll get too heavy to move from one spot to the next.

 

[LunaMarieWolf]

IMHO, I would make more than one chicken tractor. Not one big one. It'll get too heavy to move from one spot to the next.

How many chickens could I put in one tractor? Or maybe I should ask what size tractor is too big? I have some old swing set frames lying around that I can use. I've seen people make them into tractors but are those too big to move?

 

[21hens-incharge]

I think a swisher tractor will be wobbly and top heavy.
The legs will try to fold in.....

You will need to strengthen those quite a bit of using in a mobile fashion.

 

[LunaMarieWolf]

Will the tractors hold up against dogs? We did have chickens (a previous flock) put up in the coop we are moving them too, but without them having access to the run. We had a couple of dogs climb the wire door and hop in through an open gap at the top. The larger dogs tried to dig under the metal door but couldn't get in. Needless to say we lost 2 chickens to the dogs and 3 to shock.

We have already started to fortify the coop to where no predators can get in, but are they safe in the tractors?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Tractors CAN resist predators including dogs but must be built to do so. That makes them much heavier. Every time you move them you will have to secure an anti-social apron or make sure you have solar powered electric wire functioning.

My personal preference when dogs can be in contact with the coop or run or tractor is to go with a stationary coop and run.