POULTRY
Chicken tractors: Left~ Igloos made out of plastic pipe and tarpaulins. Centre ~ on wheels with handles. Right ~ A-frame coop made from scrap.
From page 39
length and breadth of the
space available to them. They
are provided with a nutri-
tious, varied diet and will
reward you with golden-
yolked eggs. The meat will
also have a good flavour.
By moving the tractor
regularly you are left with a
series of spaces for garden
beds each the shape of the
tractor. Spread a light dressing
of lime, mulch each new area
heavily and plant away – a
great way to start a vegetable
patch.
Because the chickens are
moved to a new pasture spot
frequently, the requirement
for pre-mixed foods is
reduced. The natural growth
in the garden helps to
supplement the diet of your
chickens.
As the portable chicken coop
has no floor, major cleaning
will not be necessary.
The coop occupies only a
small area on the yard. If you
are not going to plant on the
patch that they have cleared,
this gives time for the garden
to fully re-grow before the
chickens feed on that patch
again.
The movable coop can be
moved to safer locations
when bad weather arrives:
move them to the shade
when sunlight is too harsh or
under cover if there is a
torrential downpour. They
can be moved away from
muddy areas of the garden to
where fresh grass is available.
Another issue with a fixed
chicken coop is mice and rats
living around the chicken
coop, which then attracts
snakes. With the movable
chicken tractor, there is little
opportunity for rodents to
establish themselves.
41
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Mobile coops are usually
small enough to be moved
by one or two people. This is
most important, because if it
is not easy to move you will
keep putting off the job,
thereby defeating the
Continued on page 42