Hello,

I have no experience with chickens but have been considering the
possibility of keeping some for a while. I have a couple of questions
- I know there is a lot of information on the net, but it seems to
presuppose some things, or sometimes the advice even seems
contradictory - you people here seem to know a lot so I was hoping
some of you could take your time out to ask some (possibly misguided
questions)

Firstly a bit about my situation: I'm looking at keeping about 3-4
mature chickens - the objective is for eggs, manure and basically the
experience; they will have to be permanently cooped as fencing my
entire yard is not an option at the moment.

And onto the questions:
1. I've been looking at some of the small tractor-based solutions as
seen
e.g. http://www.downthelane.net/chickenhousing/IMAG010A.JPG

http://www.cityfarmer.org/chickenhut.html

http://www2.gsu.edu/~biojdsx/fowl/tractor.htm

are these appropriate place to keep chickens PERMANENTLY?

I ask because some sites regarding tractors say that you
should be taking the chickens out of the tractors every night, and
moving them daily. And others seem to be semi-permanent and talk about
moving them every couple of weeks (the tractor option is really only
possible if the second is the case). As I understand egg-laying hens
will need about 10 square feet of space and a foot of roost area
(confirm?), but I'm not sure how this fits into the general statements
people have made about tractors.

And secondly, how much maintenance do these sort of devices require
(like everybody, I guess I am looking for a minimal maintenance setup)

2. I live in in a fairly warm climate (Brisbane, Australia). In summer
the daytime temperature will fairly regularly reach 30 C, max out at
35 (this is 86 F and 95 F respectively for you imperial holdovers),
humidity anywhere from 50-90%. The sun is also quite strong.

Looking at some of the designs such as
http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~nfantasi/Chicken%20Tractors.htm

http://www.downthelane.net/chickenhousing/IMAG010A.JPG , it seems to
me like the housing areas would become incredibly hot in the daytime,
with the sun bearing down on them. I know this is certainly the case
for small sheds and the like. Is this an issue, or do the chickens
almost always stay outdoors during the day?

Plus, these sorts of rigs do not seem to provide much outdoor shade. I
know personally I would not like to sit in the direct sunlight all
day, but then I am not a chicken. Is this also an issue?

3. I've read in places (unfortunately I can't find the link) that you
can raise the coop off the ground, and this will allow you to (a)
provide easy ways to collect droppings for manure and (b) allow for a
lower maintenance coop (less cleaning).

However, I don't quite understand this... are they talking about
building the ENTIRE coop off the floor, or just the roost part, or is
for coops with free-ranging hens?

I guess I ask this because it seems like if you build the entire coop
off of the floor, it denies the hens access to the ground for
scratching etc, which I've been told is pretty important.

Anyway, at the moment I am still very much in the preliminary
investigation stage - depending on the answers I'll see how feasible
this is for me.

Hello,

I have no experience with chickens but have been considering the
possibility of keeping some for a while. I have a couple of questions
- I know there is a lot of information on the net, but it seems to
presuppose some things, or sometimes the advice even seems
contradictory - you people here seem to know a lot so I was hoping
some of you could take your time out to ask some (possibly misguided
questions)

Firstly a bit about my situation: I'm looking at keeping about 3-4
mature chickens - the objective is for eggs, manure and basically the
experience; they will have to be permanently cooped as fencing my
entire yard is not an option at the moment.

And onto the questions:
1. I've been looking at some of the small tractor-based solutions as
seen e.g. http://www.downthelane.net/chickenhousing/IMAG010A.JPG and
http://www.cityfarmer.org/chickenhut.html and http://www2.gsu.edu/~biojdsx/fowl/tractor.htm
. My first question is, are these appropriate place to keep chickens
PERMANENTLY? I ask because some sites regarding tractors say that you
should be taking the chickens out of the tractors every night, and
moving them daily. And others seem to be semi-permanent and talk about
moving them every couple of weeks (the tractor option is really only
possible if the second is the case). As I understand egg-laying hens
will need about 10 square feet of space and a foot of roost area
(confirm?), but I'm not sure how this fits into the general statements
people have made about tractors.

And secondly, how much maintenance do these sort of devices require
(like everybody, I guess I am looking for a minimal maintenance setup)

2. I live in in a fairly warm climate (Brisbane, Australia). In summer
the daytime temperature will fairly regularly reach 30 C, max out at
35 (this is 86 F and 95 F respectively for you imperial holdovers),
humidity anywhere from 50-90%. The sun is also quite strong.

Looking at some of the designs such as http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~nfantasi/Chicken%20Tractors.htm
http://www.downthelane.net/chickenhousing/IMAG010A.JPG , it seems to
me like the housing areas would become incredibly hot in the daytime,
with the sun bearing down on them. I know this is certainly the case
for small sheds and the like. Is this an issue, or do the chickens
almost always stay outdoors during the day?

Plus, these sorts of rigs do not seem to provide much outdoor shade. I
know personally I would not like to sit in the direct sunlight all
day, but then I am not a chicken. Is this also an issue?

3. I've read in places (unfortunately I can't find the link) that you
can raise the coop off the ground, and this will allow you to (a)
provide easy ways to collect droppings for manure and (b) allow for a
lower maintenance coop (less cleaning).

However, I don't quite understand this... are they talking about
building the ENTIRE coop off the floor, or just the roost part, or is
for coops with free-ranging hens?

I guess I ask this because it seems like if you build the entire coop
off of the floor, it denies the hens access to the ground for
scratching etc, which I've been told is pretty important.

Anyway, at the moment I am still very much in the preliminary
investigation stage - depending on the answers I'll see how feasible
this is for me.

cheers,
Andy

Andy,

I will try and keep this short and sharp.

Build your chooks an old fashioned fowl yard and shed. Reasoning is as
follows.

1. You are going to have to get in there. Anything less that 5 or 6
feet high makes for one nasty visit. There is nothing like crawling
around in the little to make you think twice about having chooks at all.

2. Unless you have a 1/2 acre or so the chooks will basically kill your
lawn as you drag the 'tractor' around the yard. Hell a couple of
rabbits in a hutch will do it just as quickly.

3. Councils have regulations about fowl houses. Many n NSW require
concrete floors. Some brain decided that on concrete the smell was
better. I got news for them but hey they are the ones with the pen. Not
you or I.

4. Most of the manure is to be found under the perch. It is relatively
easy to shovel it into a wheelbarrow and put it where you want it. Fresh
will burn most plants. See 2 above

5. In the heat hens will stop laying. Mine when I was in the Coffs
Harbour area generally gave up about February and recommenced after
their molt.

6. Be prepared to hose them down if it gets over about 44. Mine here
have spent the last week under the mulberry tree but it has been in the
very high 30s - 44 here this week. They have been damned hot but they
coped. Just like me. But just like people they need shade and water.
Restrict either and they will die.

7. Avoid Isa Browns. They drop like flies in the heat. Particularly if
you get them after their pullet lay. Leghorns, Minorcas and Light
Sussex appear to do the best in a hot dry environment as do game fowl.
Of those Leghorns are the best layers.

8. Given you folk are going onto level five water restrictions in the
next week or so. It may be prudent to see just what limits that might
have on your ability to husband fowl.

Ok.

Matt


Much the same as I was going to say. I can only add that you buy your

unicorn wrote:
Andy,

I will try and keep this short and sharp.

Build your chooks an old fashioned fowl yard and shed. Reasoning is
as follows.

1. You are going to have to get in there. Anything less that 5 or 6
feet high makes for one nasty visit. There is nothing like crawling
around in the little to make you think twice about having chooks at all.

2. Unless you have a 1/2 acre or so the chooks will basically kill
your lawn as you drag the 'tractor' around the yard. Hell a couple of
rabbits in a hutch will do it just as quickly.

3. Councils have regulations about fowl houses. Many n NSW require
concrete floors. Some brain decided that on concrete the smell was
better. I got news for them but hey they are the ones with the pen.
Not you or I.

4. Most of the manure is to be found under the perch. It is
relatively easy to shovel it into a wheelbarrow and put it where you
want it. Fresh will burn most plants. See 2 above

5. In the heat hens will stop laying. Mine when I was in the Coffs
Harbour area generally gave up about February and recommenced after
their molt.

6. Be prepared to hose them down if it gets over about 44. Mine
here have spent the last week under the mulberry tree but it has been
in the very high 30s - 44 here this week. They have been damned hot
but they coped. Just like me. But just like people they need shade
and water. Restrict either and they will die.

7. Avoid Isa Browns. They drop like flies in the heat. Particularly
if you get them after their pullet lay. Leghorns, Minorcas and Light
Sussex appear to do the best in a hot dry environment as do game fowl.
Of those Leghorns are the best layers.

8. Given you folk are going onto level five water restrictions in the
next week or so. It may be prudent to see just what limits that might
have on your ability to husband fowl.

Ok.

Matt


Much the same as I was going to say. I can only add that you buy your
birds from a reputable local breeder and don't disregard Australorps as
a bird that can handle the heat (the humidity may be another thing).
Black feathered birds can handle the heat quite well and still lay
reliably. Locally raised birds will be already adapted to the heat.

Definitely get a cage you can walk into, maybe a large cocky aviary with
plenty of floor space. Under the perch area a layer of thick newspaper,
sawdust or similar makes cleaning it out easier. Raised cages are
alright if you have a suitable run attached and can get to the raised
area easily. Any with small access doors are to be avoided.

For local Aussie news try here for ideas tool