subject: Chicken Coop Plans - The tractor [print this page] So you have moved to your dream farm location and are looking forward to raising prize chickens for fresh organic eggs. Maybe you had visions of them scurrying across your yard, chasing all sorts of bugs, and scratching in the dirt for more. But then the facts of country living came to the forefront in the form of raccoons, roaming dogs and neighbors who may not share your vision for organic eggs.
So the next plan of action would be to confine your prize hens in a hen house or pen, however you will find most chickens always find a way out of their confinement and you will find them placidly scratching in the dirt of the neighbor's driveway or being chased by their dog!
Another feature of chickens is like us they have preferences and they will decide where they will lay their eggs and it may not be the area you provided, so what is the answer to these problems and more? Enter the chicken coop tractor!
A chicken coop tractor is designed to house your hens in an open area but can easily be moved when they have used the area they are in. Since chickens like to scratch for their food and fertilize the lawn at the same time it won't be long before they will wear out the lawn or pasture area.
If you prefer to let your hens roam to have access to fresh, green grass, insects, and whatever else they found in addition to the feed you give them, yet need to protect them the tractor design is an ideal solution.
Chicken coop tractors come in many styles and designs but the end result is the same, they are portable and will have an enclosed pen with an open bottom and a nesting/roosting area. It is kept as lightweight as possible so that it can be moved from place to place on the homestead on a daily or weekly basis, providing the chickens with a fresh environment. Because it is completely enclosed the chicken cannot get out, nor can predators easily get in.
If you prefer you can lock your chickens up in the hen house overnight as a safety measure, however during the day a chicken tractor is the perfect spot.
