When raising chickens, one of the most vital additions to the yard is the coop. This will be where your chickens sleep and lay, so it’s going to need to be something you put a lot of time and effort into getting just right. But have you considered forgoing the usual design and going with a movable chicken coop? It may actually be just what you’re looking for. Here’s what you should know about movable chicken coops.
One of the biggest drawbacks to the chicken coop is the constant need to clean it. With a movable coop, also known as a chicken tractor, a lot of that worry is eliminated. The reason for this is because these portable coops are built without floors, so the grass and dirt underneath them is the entirety of the flooring. This allows for a more natural atmosphere for chickens as they get to interact with grass far easier while in their coop, but it also makes it so that you don’t have to clean the coop floor since it’s simply the ground.
Along with this comes the benefit of letting your chickens nibble on grass and forage for bugs far simpler. This will help to offset the feeding costs as your hens will take care of some of that on their own, pecking and scratching as they like within the grass. Of course, if the coop is left in one spot for too long, the grass immediately under it will be picked clean, but that’s the nature of the movable coop.
As you’d suspect, since the word “movable” is in the name, these coops can and should be moved somewhat frequently. Mainly, this allows the grass underneath to grow back and the bug population to elevate itself a little bit once more, but it also lets your chickens see more of the yard. Also, the ability to move it wherever you need gives you the opportunity to plan around other problems, such as summer heat or winter cold. If you’ve noticed your chicken coop getting hammered by too much sunlight, you have the ability to move it under a tree or to a place with a lot more shade. Plus, if you ever feel the need to built more in the yard, you won’t have to work around the coop you’ve already built. Instead, the coop will work around you.
Lastly, one of the biggest benefits of a chicken tractor is the size requirements, or lack thereof. Movable chicken coops are typically much smaller than standard coops, making them wonderful options for those wishing to raise chickens in a smaller backyard. The construction is simple and the overall work is kept to a minimum when using a portable coop. Certainly a good option to consider.
If you’ve been looking for something new but effective when it comes to a chicken coop, going portable isn’t a bad idea. You might actually discover that it’s the perfect solution for your exact situation.
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