On 24 Feb 2004 23:37:08 +1100, Ivan McDonagh
wrote:

Frogleg wrote in
:


If I could protect them in cold weather,
I'd love to have a 'chicken tractor.'

I wish I'd thought of this a bit earlier since I intend to keep chooks at
some stage - perhaps sooner rather than later!

I just googled for chicken tractor and found not very much that's very
useful ... do you have any good links regarding building tractors and
capacity ? - I'm hoping to keep 20 birds of laying/slaughtering size plus
the same again of chicks.

Actually, I know it's getting off-topic now but any good sites on raising
chickens for home consumption would be good.

Thanks

Ivan.

I don't know about chick tractors other than they vary from ones
people just put out for the day, roof and wire, and just move them
across green areas for the birds to eat, to buildings with wheels and
can be moved with runs and building.

I just thought I'd mention that 20 chickens can produce enough heat to
keep each other warm in winter if housed in a building that's not too
large and which is well insulated - for protection not only from the
cold, but from the summer heat. I didn't lose any from winter cold,
but summer heat killed all the buff orpingtons as they are heavily
feathered. Just make sure you cover that insulation 100% .. chickens
think it's cotton candy!

Janice

On 24 Feb 2004 23:37:08 +1100, Ivan McDonagh
wrote:

Frogleg wrote in
:


If I could protect them in cold weather,
I'd love to have a 'chicken tractor.'

I wish I'd thought of this a bit earlier since I intend to keep chooks at
some stage - perhaps sooner rather than later!

I just googled for chicken tractor and found not very much that's very
useful ... do you have any good links regarding building tractors and
capacity ? - I'm hoping to keep 20 birds of laying/slaughtering size plus
the same again of chicks.

Actually, I know it's getting off-topic now but any good sites on raising
chickens for home consumption would be good.

Thanks

Ivan.

I don't know about chick tractors other than they vary from ones
people just put out for the day, roof and wire, and just move them
across green areas for the birds to eat, to buildings with wheels and
can be moved with runs and building.

I just thought I'd mention that 20 chickens can produce enough heat to
keep each other warm in winter if housed in a building that's not too
large and which is well insulated - for protection not only from the
cold, but from the summer heat. I didn't lose any from winter cold,
but summer heat killed all the buff orpingtons as they are heavily
feathered. Just make sure you cover that insulation 100% .. chickens
think it's cotton candy!

Janice

On 24 Feb 2004 23:37:08 +1100, Ivan McDonagh
wrote:

Frogleg wrote in
:


If I could protect them in cold weather,
I'd love to have a 'chicken tractor.'

I wish I'd thought of this a bit earlier since I intend to keep chooks at
some stage - perhaps sooner rather than later!

I just googled for chicken tractor and found not very much that's very
useful ... do you have any good links regarding building tractors and
capacity ? - I'm hoping to keep 20 birds of laying/slaughtering size plus
the same again of chicks.

Actually, I know it's getting off-topic now but any good sites on raising
chickens for home consumption would be good.

Thanks

Ivan.

I don't know about chick tractors other than they vary from ones
people just put out for the day, roof and wire, and just move them
across green areas for the birds to eat, to buildings with wheels and
can be moved with runs and building.

I just thought I'd mention that 20 chickens can produce enough heat to
keep each other warm in winter if housed in a building that's not too
large and which is well insulated - for protection not only from the
cold, but from the summer heat. I didn't lose any from winter cold,
but summer heat killed all the buff orpingtons as they are heavily
feathered. Just make sure you cover that insulation 100% .. chickens
think it's cotton candy!

Janice

On 24 Feb 2004 23:37:08 +1100, Ivan McDonagh
wrote:

Frogleg wrote

If I could protect them in cold weather,
I'd love to have a 'chicken tractor.'

I wish I'd thought of this a bit earlier since I intend to keep chooks at
some stage - perhaps sooner rather than later!

I just googled for chicken tractor and found not very much that's very
useful ... do you have any good links regarding building tractors and
capacity ? - I'm hoping to keep 20 birds of laying/slaughtering size plus
the same again of chicks.

I'm sorry I can't be of more help. I saw the idea in, I believe, an
old gardening mag, and it looked like a nifty idea. Some sort of
easily movable, enclosed shelter with exercise yard. Here's one
reference I Googled:

http://www.savonburg.org/pen/chickens.html

On 24 Feb 2004 23:37:08 +1100, Ivan McDonagh
wrote:

Frogleg wrote

If I could protect them in cold weather,
I'd love to have a 'chicken tractor.'

I wish I'd thought of this a bit earlier since I intend to keep chooks at
some stage - perhaps sooner rather than later!

I just googled for chicken tractor and found not very much that's very
useful ... do you have any good links regarding building tractors and
capacity ? - I'm hoping to keep 20 birds of laying/slaughtering size plus
the same again of chicks.

I'm sorry I can't be of more help. I saw the idea in, I believe, an
old gardening mag, and it looked like a nifty idea. Some sort of
easily movable, enclosed shelter with exercise yard. Here's one
reference I Googled:

http://www.savonburg.org/pen/chickens.html