Good synopsis of general chicken keeping! As far as a set-up, you can also work out a combination, such as a coop and covered pen (fairly large enclosed run), with a couple of hours a day in the late afternoon of free-ranging after they've laid all their eggs for the day.
I have a secure coop and fairly large run. 8 Hens, 5 gal food bucket and water bucket. I check on them daily but they are good for about 3 days without anything. We will let them free range sometimes and they will put themselves up at night.
We have a mean rooster also. I'm afraid to go in chicken yard. I don't like that. To top it off, we have a mean goat also, in there. The only reason she is still there is because I realized she is actually keeping the chickens safe at night. We do not have to lock them up. An automatic chicken door would be cheaper.
I make sure they have at least three days of food and water in case I can't get out or I just fet too lazy. I only have 15, no roosters. Sand in the floor of the coop with straw on top. Straw on the floor of the run, and plenty of room. They seem happy, and run to the door every time I go out.❤
If you move it every two to three days it won’t smell. The most likely situation for odor to develop is during wet times especially if you don’t move it frequently enough. Provided you have enough space to keep moving the tractor around, it won’t get malodorous. As long as grass/green stuff is growing underneath and the chickens aren’t scratching the ground bare leaving wet mud and poop, you won’t have issues.
We have a large pen, about 30x20. The wire is 6’ high with a bird net cover, this keeps them in and flying predators out. We don’t close the coop at night. It is fairly secure inside the pen. Right now we have only 7 layers. They are only 2 years old but have all but quit laying. Feed is from an independent mill, not a box store. Days are plenty long now, but only an egg or two a day, some days none. We have had chickens about 15 years, but this is the lowest production yet. Their first year they laid like crazy. Any input, anyone?
Good synopsis of general chicken keeping! As far as a set-up, you can also work out a combination, such as a coop and covered pen (fairly large enclosed run), with a couple of hours a day in the late afternoon of free-ranging after they've laid all their eggs for the day.
That is true, that is a great idea!
Super 👌🐔 I Am Indian Farmer
I love the automatic door! What a great idea! Can you give a rough estimate on how much it cost for y'all to get started raising chickens?
I have a secure coop and fairly large run. 8 Hens, 5 gal food bucket and water bucket. I check on them daily but they are good for about 3 days without anything. We will let them free range sometimes and they will put themselves up at night.
That is a great way to do it!
We have a mean rooster also. I'm afraid to go in chicken yard. I don't like that. To top it off, we have a mean goat also, in there. The only reason she is still there is because I realized she is actually keeping the chickens safe at night. We do not have to lock them up. An automatic chicken door would be cheaper.
We have been waiting for a new rooster to arrive and now that we do we will be switching him out , we don’t deal with mean roosters
I make sure they have at least three days of food and water in case I can't get out or I just fet too lazy. I only have 15, no roosters. Sand in the floor of the coop with straw on top. Straw on the floor of the run, and plenty of room. They seem happy, and run to the door every time I go out.❤
Three days is a great way to do it!
How tall is your chicken tractor? How much pvc piping did you use and what size
I think it’s about 6 ft tall. And I bought 5 10ft PVC pipes and cut them in half
Chickens are really easy. My only issue being in the desert was water waste, so I have a siphon waterer.
I can imagine that would make it harder!
Whe you pull the chicken tractor, does the ground smell where you had the tractor? From the poop?
If you move it very often then not unless you try too smell it. Which who would? that’s gross 🤢
@@livingmcdanielstyle im concerned about odor and the neighbors
If you move it every two to three days it won’t smell. The most likely situation for odor to develop is during wet times especially if you don’t move it frequently enough. Provided you have enough space to keep moving the tractor around, it won’t get malodorous. As long as grass/green stuff is growing underneath and the chickens aren’t scratching the ground bare leaving wet mud and poop, you won’t have issues.
As long as you move it every 1-2 days it won’t smell bad
We have a large pen, about 30x20. The wire is 6’ high with a bird net cover, this keeps them in and flying predators out. We don’t close the coop at night. It is fairly secure inside the pen. Right now we have only 7 layers. They are only 2 years old but have all but quit laying. Feed is from an independent mill, not a box store. Days are plenty long now, but only an egg or two a day, some days none. We have had chickens about 15 years, but this is the lowest production yet. Their first year they laid like crazy. Any input, anyone?
Geese if I free ranges it’d be a free dinner for all the raptors in the area lol. Know your area👍
Yes I think you should know your surroundings, I feel like that’s why all set ups are okay it just matters what’s best for your chickens
Chickens are the easiest pet to have outdoor.
Yes!
How long of a vacation can you take though? This is one thing I'm trying to figure out ...2weeks overseas for in laws 😅
You could probably make it last for 2 weeks, you would have a lot of eggs to collect though 🙈
@@AcresOfAdventure oh that's another thing! Wouldn't want them to start eating them...
Chickens are awesome
Yes they are!