Browniebird
In the Brooder
I am in a pickle here, we are being forced to move (long story) and I'm losing my chicken coop, but we can't afford to buy a place with prices right now so renting it is. That being said, my MIL can take my birds (which we will be banding to differentiate from her birds) for a temporary stay until I figure something new out. Fingers crossed we end up outside city limits and MIL doesnt have to keep my roosters.
I have 18 chickens. 2 roosters, 16 hens. Barnyard mix of new holland, australorp, jersey giant, and delawares. I know they need 10 square feet per bird. I'm trying to figure out the most economical way to build a fully enclosed coop/run for them that has a tractor and I can move them daily so I dont get in trouble with our new landlord, that I can take apart semi easily when we leave. Whether I can keep my roosters or not, thats still 16 minimum birds. This would be their 100% living space. Coop and run all in one.
I've seen tractors made from cattle panels, which are pretty economical, but what I've seen is mostly geared to meat bird production and my birds are mostly used for eggs. Mean or extra roosters and old hens go in the pot, but otherwise eggs.
We have skunks, hawks, foxes, and "domestic" cats in this area as predators.
I am not a dog (or pet) person, so no guard dog or animal of any kind. The only animals I can stand are meat birds (chicken and duck) and goats.
Does anyone have any ideas for me? Right now this is all theoretical, since we dont even have a place lined up, but I'm a person who needs a plan - i.e once we have a place and MIL takes my birds temporarily, I can start immediately setting up their new home vs waiting until then to figure out what to do.
I have 18 chickens. 2 roosters, 16 hens. Barnyard mix of new holland, australorp, jersey giant, and delawares. I know they need 10 square feet per bird. I'm trying to figure out the most economical way to build a fully enclosed coop/run for them that has a tractor and I can move them daily so I dont get in trouble with our new landlord, that I can take apart semi easily when we leave. Whether I can keep my roosters or not, thats still 16 minimum birds. This would be their 100% living space. Coop and run all in one.
I've seen tractors made from cattle panels, which are pretty economical, but what I've seen is mostly geared to meat bird production and my birds are mostly used for eggs. Mean or extra roosters and old hens go in the pot, but otherwise eggs.
We have skunks, hawks, foxes, and "domestic" cats in this area as predators.
I am not a dog (or pet) person, so no guard dog or animal of any kind. The only animals I can stand are meat birds (chicken and duck) and goats.
Does anyone have any ideas for me? Right now this is all theoretical, since we dont even have a place lined up, but I'm a person who needs a plan - i.e once we have a place and MIL takes my birds temporarily, I can start immediately setting up their new home vs waiting until then to figure out what to do.