A hen tractor can present your chickens with the advantages of free-ranging whereas preserving them secure from predators. Right here’s our information to an enclosed and movable run to get your flock up and out of the coop.

Hen Tractor Musts

Fake free-ranging makes use of a hen tractor or one other moveable run to provide chickens and different poultry every day entry to contemporary greens and bugs whereas preserving them secure from predators. You should buy a hen tractor from a producer or log on to search out some neat plans and construct your individual.

Whether or not you assemble your individual or purchase an already-assembled hen tractor, there are a number of issues it’s best to embody.

• 10 to fifteen sq. ft of room for every hen (if you happen to can enable it, extra space is best)
• Nesting containers for laying hens
• Safety from aerial predators, ground-dwelling predators and digging predators
• Simply moveable (Ideally, your hen tractor ought to have wheels and a deal with to push or pull your run to the following pasture.)
• An hooked up predator-proof coop in case you are housing chickens in a hen tractor in a single day.

Now that you already know what your hen tractor ought to embody, let’s get all the way down to the nitty-gritty of predator-proofing.

Security First

There isn’t any level in fake free-ranging if predators can nonetheless acquire entry to your flock. If a predator enters the hen tractor, there is no such thing as a means in your trapped chickens to flee their lethal destiny. Take all obligatory precautions to guard your flock from all predator assaults to make sure your and your flock’s peace of thoughts.

Learn Extra: Defending Chickens From Snakes, Opossums & Different Predators

There are a number of methods to stop predators from attacking your flock. Overhead safety, heavy-gauge wire and predator skirts are among the finest methods to guard your chickens.

Aerial Safety

A 16-gauge half-inch {hardware} material is likely one of the finest methods to discourage climbing and aerial predators from accessing your hen tractor via the roof.

Securing the highest of the run with a weatherproof, heavy-duty tarp gives an out-of-sight, out-of-mind barrier so aerial predators can’t see the chickens. It would additionally supply safety from the new summer time solar.

Heavy Gauge Wiring

Although hen wire is called the all-purpose wire to maintain chickens in and predators out, the reality is hen wire does little to guard your flock. Hen wire is so flimsy that foxes and raccoons haven’t any issues chewing proper via it.

To fully maintain predators out, use a PVC-coated 16-gauge half-inch {hardware} material.

Predator Skirts

Attaching predator skirts to the underside exterior the perimeter of your hen tractor will forestall digging predators from accessing your run. To do that, you’ll need three instruments.

• PVC-coated 16-gauge 3/4-inch {hardware} material
• Heavy-duty zip ties
• Metallic stakes

Connect 18 inches of {hardware} material to the underside exterior the perimeter of the run. Safe in place by driving the stakes via the {hardware} material into the bottom.

Wholesome Flock

Day by day entry to pasture is essential to preserving your flock wholesome by offering chickens entry to the contemporary greens and bugs they want.

Fake-free-ranging reduces stress and nervousness whereas lessening your flock’s possibilities of contracting coccidiosis, inside parasites and different poultry-related illnesses.

A Hen Tractor = Higher Eggs

Have you ever ever checked out the comparability between pasture-raised or free-range eggs and meat versus non-free-range? Free-range eggs include 1 / 4 much less saturated fats, thrice extra vitamin E, twice the quantity of omega-3 fatty acids, 1 / 4 much less ldl cholesterol, seven occasions extra beta carotene, and two-thirds extra vitamin A.

Free-ranging chickens additionally produce higher-quality meat containing extra iron, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants than non-pastured chickens. To study extra about the advantages of consuming pastured-raised chickens, click on right here.

Throw in how a lot better your eggs and meat will style, and it’s a win-win.

So sure, with faux-free-ranging, it’s doable to maintain your chickens secure from predators and supply your flock with the well being advantages of a free-range weight loss plan whereas offering you with more healthy eggs and meat.

This text about utilizing a hen tractor to free-range a flock was written for Chickens journal on-line. Click on right here to subscribe.