Heavier than I'd like but not too heavy. One guy can easily move it. I get a lot of wind so it needs some heft.
I don't think you will need three laying boxes. I have two boxes and all the hens lay in just one of the boxes.
We don't get Wyoming wind, but when a storm kicks up it can get interesting. I camped a few times in Cody, WY and the wind was legit.
Got 40 of the biggest chics moved into the tractor tonight. The rest will go in in a few days. More chics coming soon.
I've never raised chickens but might like to in the future, so I gotta ask- If you let them out of the coop during the day, how do you get them back in at night? I have too many predators around here to let them stat out. Thanks, JB
They usually return to the coop around sundown. Just keep them in it for a few days so they know that's where to go before letting them out.
Yeah, they go in at night. Mine are on the roost 30 min before sundown. Keep them up for 4-5 days when they are new so they will know where home is.
Back in the 90's, I bought some "old girl" layers from an egg farm. Also ordered some "meat" chicks for the same summer. Man, did those things ever grow fast! And big! They just about grew out of their leg sockets! And also got one rooster with the layers...kids loved me for that. Still hear stories of how they hated to go collect eggs!
These three were leftover from chick day at family business. Not sure what variety but supposed the be good layers. Hopefully they stick around. Second day outside for some fresh air. J
jeebus-that's a lot of birds! I raised 6 ducks once---that was enough chit for me to deal with. I cant imagine 140. My new neighbor (to my camper), for 3 years now, has tried to raise chicks directly under a hawks nest. I told him when he started building it, he was wasting his time as these hawks return every year. He hasn't had 1 survive long enough to lay yet. Now he wants to shoot the hawk. I told him how I felt about that considering I like watching the pair every year, I literally SAW them mating on a tree branch 10 yards away from me, and suggested he learn how to build a better coop considering he shoots about as well as he builds stuff.
When you move the tractor every day the chit is pretty manageable. Grass is going to grow like a MOFO though. I don't think hawks could get into this if they wanted to.
We just got a couple ducks. We're getting ready to build a little shelter for them at the edge of the pond.
