Comments on The Sifford Sojournal: Chickens

Hi Andi,Glad you're enjoying it.There was a time w...

2008-06-26T13:04:00.000-05:00

Hi Andi,

Glad you're enjoying it.

There was a time when we kept 20-25 chickens in there and didn't let them out because of potential hawk attacks (after we had had one). If you are able to move it often, say every day or two, and move it on top of new landscape that has some vegetation, then it's probably barely ok with that many chickens but probably not more, and maybe 15 would be probably max. Also, you probably only want one rooster in there, because the non-alpha male will probably end up spending most of its time in the nest area away from the alpha male.

There are many other designs for chicken tractors out there, depending on your situation and purposes. If you cannot completely free range them, an idea (and maybe even a better one) is being able to get them into some sort of pen rotation (with which a chicken tractor/portable chicken coup would be beneficial).

Hope that helps,

-- David

I've really enjoyed reading your journal, and I lo...

2008-06-26T12:10:00.000-05:00

I've really enjoyed reading your journal, and I love the pictures. I have a couple of questions about your large chicken tractor. What is the maximum number of chickens that you think it could be used for? Can you leave the chickens in it all winter? Thanks!

Neat info, thanks much, Manette.-- David

2008-04-23T22:35:00.000-05:00

Neat info, thanks much, Manette.

-- David

David, just a suggestion that I've found useful wi...

2008-04-23T13:43:00.000-05:00

David, just a suggestion that I've found useful with my free range chickens. When you throw feed out to them, call them too. I call "chick, chick". Before long they associate the call with the feed and when I can't find them during the day, I just call them and they all come running! That way I can keep a eye on them because we live near dense woods and I'm always afraid that something will come out of the woods and get them.
Best, Manette