The Poultry Keeper

camaria · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 6

Hi,

I'm building a 4x8 chicken tractor (portable coop) and I'm worried about leaving it bottomless due to predators. Although the girls are securely locked up at night, I'm away through the day. Our acreage has some really uneven, hilly spots. I've considered installing a wire mesh apron around the outside of the coop to deter digging, but just got this idea.

Has anyone installed hog panels on the bottom of their chicken tractors (portable coop)? The panels are rigid, very strong and I can get them with 4" by 4" spacing between the wires. I know that wire floors are bad for chickens feet, but with 4"x4" spacing couldn't the chickens still scratch at the ground and forage at the grass?

I know a wire floor with 4"x4" spacing won't keep small predators out, like weasels, but since these are nocturnal, the chickens will be safe and locked up from them at night. I'm more worried about foxes, coyotes and dogs digging under the tractor during the day, especially with our uneven ground and this seemed like a better option than running hardware cloth all the way around the outside of the coop. Any thoughts?

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3540 Location: Monmouthshire

That is exacty what I do with my broody arks. Obviously I use a small gauge wire on the bottom, but they are moved daily and it does also avoid trapping a chick under the living quarters, and stop anything burrowing to get in at night. It does no harm to their feet.

mojo · Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:06 pm Post subject:

use the smallest mesh you can afford.......because small rodents havnt read the book that says they are always nocturnal