Chicken Tractors

Ever heard of a chicken tractor?  The concept originated with Joel Salatin, as a way to keep his chickens confined while letting them eat the weeds between his garden rows.  Now, chicken tractors are used for everything from back-yard chicken coops to protecting free-range chickens from predators.

In the early spring, we use our chicken tractor as a kind of brooding house for our older chicks–when they are old enough to be out in the open but not big enough to be in with the rest of the hens.  During the spring and summer, we use our chicken tractor to keep the chickens on green grass during the daytime.  The hens spend the night in the coop, for warmth and protection, but they troop right out to the chicken tractor each morning to be fed.

Here are a few pictures, with descriptions, to show our chicken tractor’s features.  There are a few things we’ve changed as we used it, and a few more we’d do differently if we were to make another.  But hopefully these photos can give you some ideas, if you’re thinking of making your own.  (If you need more inspiration, check out this collection of over 180 chicken tractor pictures!)

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