What do you think of this Tractor for Georgia?

[kcsunshine]

I used to live in Valdosta. No way would I put chickens in a little space under a tin roof without lots of ventilation. Needs windows and shade.

 

[bnew17]

So im guessing, based off of what ive been reading, that a tin roof is probably not the way to go. Maybe a plywood roof with some shingles to dress it up?

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Well, as others have said I would not use chicken wire for that purpose. Half-inch hardware cloth or something similar.

Is the part of the frame in ground contact made from treated wood? Untreated pine touching the soil is going to rot out in two years or less.

Ventilation could be better in the nest box/roost area. Use a hole saw and some hardware cloth.

Tin can be fine if the ventilation is good.

.....Alan.

 

[jamespm_98]

I live in the upstate of SC so not quite as hot, but we do get pretty hot and humid in the summer. I run mine in a tractor and I find my issue is shade, once the sun passes over about 2:00 or so tractors with tall roof offer no shade, consider a roof with more overhang or some panels you can locate on the sunny side to give your birds some shade. On my first tractor I ended up hangin old towels on the sunny side to shade them (my wife hated it), on my next design I made sure the roof would shade them. Also think about the white PVC roofing panels (I got mine from Home depot) they are cheaper than tin and very cool due to their white color.

 

[bnew17]

James i like the idea about the white pvc. We have a HD here so i will look there for the roof paneling.

What do yal reccomend on the outside of the tractor as far as protecting from the weather. A good coating of exterior latex paint?

 

[bnew17]

any ideas on how to finish the outside?

exterior latex paint?
stain?

 

[jamespm_98]

I would go with stain, I try to avoid paint because I hate to paint. You could consider using the same panels as the roof, that is what I did so my tractor is basically maintenance free.

James