tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post4215074441702471537..comments2023-11-02T05:18:38.925-05:00Comments on Antiquity Oaks: New poultry tractorDeborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-90481342717663746822010-11-04T18:18:36.190-05:002010-11-04T18:18:36.190-05:00For chickens I use electrified poultry netting. It...For chickens I use electrified poultry netting. It's easy to move around and lets me fence in a rather large area. The chickens can run, climb trees/shrubs and chase bugs to their hearts content. They sleep in a converted coop on wheels (using an old hay wagon base) which gets moved around with the fence--it's also where they lay their eggs. I really enjoy watching them in the pasture. I think I'd have a hard time seeing them so confined in a tractor. In 2 years I've lost 3 chickens to hawks in the pasture arrangement. The only other chickens I lost were to a mink and were being housed in a Salatin style tractor. They were young birds I was growing on which would eventually join the chickens in the pasture. The mink got under the tractor and the birds were trapped. I don't think I would have lost them had they been free to escape. I did eventually kill the mink with the back of a shovel when he had another chicken in his mouth. That solved the problem.<br />As far as turkeys, I've had the same experience with losing heritage breeds. I solved the roaming problem by putting down a little more feed than I did before and it seems to have solved the problem though they do sleep anywhere: on top of the barn, in trees, in the barn rafters . . . but it's entertaining!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-33934934866396350722010-11-04T14:19:13.974-05:002010-11-04T14:19:13.974-05:00I'll just add that the destroyed patch of gras...I'll just add that the destroyed patch of grass we moved them from happened in 1 day. (We had rain the day before which makes for extra mud) and this picture was taken at the height of their maturity, right before slaughter.<br /><br />The grass that grows back in it's place is easily 20% brighter than the surrounding turf. It's BEAUTIFUL. And grows back surprisingly quickly too.Twwlyhttp://twwly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-49348303867659813052010-11-04T14:17:07.913-05:002010-11-04T14:17:07.913-05:00http://twwly.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/MG_595...http://twwly.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/MG_5950.jpg<br /><br />That's what we move our chickens in. I would definitely advise against making them tall if you don't have wind breaks. (We don't).<br /><br />We can't let our chickens run, there are too many predators... including my own chicken killing dog being top on that list. <br /><br />We move them every day (which is HARDLY any work, honestly, especially if you make yours with wheels) and they get to enjoy fresh grass and bugs, while remaining protected. You have all of an extra one minute moving a tractor while you go out to do your chores, in my experience anyway.<br /><br />Our chicken tractors are Salatin style. But we don't put any tin down the sides, just 3/4 of the top. The don't have wheels. Are most easily moved with 2 people, but I moved mine solo almost every day this summer, just jumping them up a spot side to side.<br /><br />The turkey tractor we use, holds comfortably 2 dozen, I can "almost" stand in up, but it's made of welded steel, with poultry square up the sides and tarp on top. It has a very clever wheel mechanism that makes it VERY easy to use and secure down, both.Twwlyhttp://twwly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-79245124580142580742010-11-03T21:33:51.008-05:002010-11-03T21:33:51.008-05:00Rachel, I'll have to take another pictures of ...Rachel, I'll have to take another pictures of the other side. I don't understand why Blogger didn't like the picture of the front, but it would not show up, or it would be tall and skinny and distorted. I've never had that problem before.<br /><br />Anonymous, You're right that it is more work to have them in a tractor. They have to be moved once a day. I don't like it. However, it protects them from predators. And for heritage turkeys, it keeps them from flying off. They can easily fly over fences. We let broad-breasted turkeys live in the pasture and free range, because they can't fly. We used to let the heritage turkeys free range, but we spent a lot of time chasing them home. And then one year, we had 20 of them disappear in a single day, so I'm sure they just wandered off. That was a huge financial loss!Deborah Niemannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-57890894439866670862010-11-03T19:18:54.430-05:002010-11-03T19:18:54.430-05:00What's the benefit of keeping them confined in...What's the benefit of keeping them confined in a 'tractor' vs. letting them free-range? It looks like more work as the tractor has to be moved I would guess every 1-2 days.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-6487592481443180902010-11-03T16:16:56.103-05:002010-11-03T16:16:56.103-05:00We just bought a whole bunch of live stock panels,...We just bought a whole bunch of live stock panels, and have some leftover. Thanks for the tip!Vegetable Garden Cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01641599988061148892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-83445306622489637582010-11-03T14:53:13.383-05:002010-11-03T14:53:13.383-05:00LOVE this idea!! I may have to try it for my chick...LOVE this idea!! I may have to try it for my chicken tractor!! I need something new. The one we have is a "we've never done this, so let's make it 3 feet high" version. Same problems you had. lol Can you share a photo of the other side!?Mrs Pretzelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15013942924710797563noreply@blogger.com