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 Post subject: Chicken tractor fox-proofing
PostPosted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:47 pm 
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Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:48 pm
Posts: 131
Location: Victoria, Australia
How do people fox-proof their chicken tractors at night? I've seen tractors with weldmesh permanently attached to the floor, but want to keep mine open for scratching and dustbathing during the day. It's overnight that is the problem for me. Do I make a small concrete slab to park it on each night, or what do others do to make it safe at night? I'd appreciate your input, thanks.


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 Post subject: Re: Chicken tractor fox-proofing
PostPosted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 7:10 am 
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Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 7:47 am
Posts: 2176
Location: The Shire
Hi, Brownie wave.gif ,

Did you build your chook tractor? If you don't want to attach mesh on the floor of the tractor, maybe you could build them a secure night residence?

A lot of people have both tractor and permanent coop. Here is a previous thread on the pros and cons of each.
http://www.australianpoultryforum.com/v ... 43&t=11717

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 Post subject: Re: Chicken tractor fox-proofing
PostPosted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 12:37 pm 
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Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:48 pm
Posts: 131
Location: Victoria, Australia
Hello Hens & Hobbits,

Thanks for the link to the other thread. Most of the tractors mentioned seem larger and are left in the same spot for up to a week. I move mine (only 1800 x 900) a couple of times a day. I decided on a tractor to move them to fresh grass each day.

Yes I built mine a few weeks ago when I got the four chooks. It was quite a project for a middle-aged old duck, working with steel for the first time. The cost and work of designing and building a second residence so soon is very unappealing. th_Noooo.gif And if I was to have both a permanent coop and the tractor, I know I'd go the way of most people who have both and just leave them in the permanent one.

I move the tractor into the carport onto concrete each night for safety, but it's been two months since I kicked the car out of the carport to start building, and I want the car back there. The carport has been handy for safety, so that's why I'm wondering about having a small slab in the yard, maybe 7ft x 4ft, to park the tractor on each night. And the chooks would probably appreciate the familiarity of the same night-time spot.

I'm still wondering how others make their tractors safe, especially overnight. No point putting a slab in if there are better ways.


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 Post subject: Re: Chicken tractor fox-proofing
PostPosted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 7:11 pm 
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Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:48 pm
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Location: Victoria, Australia
Then again, maybe a fairly large holed sheet of weldmesh (1200 x 2metres) on flat ground with the tractor parked on it overnight could be better? The tractor is only 900 X 1800 and a sheet of weldmesh costs $28. Hmm, might beat mixing concrete and the chooks at least can have a grass nibble before the tractor gets on the move for the day. [smilie=a_goodjobson.gif]


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 Post subject: Re: Chicken tractor fox-proofing
PostPosted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 8:11 pm 
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Maybe you could secure the mesh to the tractor every night with cable ties so it is attached to the tractor and nothing can dig under and get to the chookies?

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 Post subject: Re: Chicken tractor fox-proofing
PostPosted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 9:26 pm 
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Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:48 pm
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Location: Victoria, Australia
Yes Petite Poulet, that would be a good and easy enough thing to do, to tie the weldmesh groundsheet to the tractor when parking it each night to make certain of no small gaps between the steel frame and the weldmesh on the ground. I think they make 50cm/2" square holed weldmesh which would be plenty fox and dog safe, while letting the chooks nibble the grass. I always spend a little while saying goodnight to the girls at bedtime anyway, so it's just chatting time putting the ties on. I think that's the way I'll go. And it can be done quite soon rather than messing around making a slab.

Decision made! [smilie=a_goodjob.gif] Thank you PP and Hens and Hobbits.

It would still be good to hear what others do if anyone has a tractor. If we can share some useful information, we all benefit.


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