Raising chickens on a small scale has become very popular. For many families, keeping just a few chickens in their backyard will provide more that enough fresh eggs for their needs. For those wanting to house just a few chickens, a chicken tractor, or chicken ark is the ideal solution. As it turns out there are many advantages of housing your chickens in a “tractor” as compared to a more traditional stationary chicken coop designs.
The primary difference between a chicken tractor and a more traditional chicken coop is that the tractor is portable. It is light weight and is designed to be moved around the yard. Because of its limited size and simple geometry, it is easier and much cheaper to build that a regular coop, making it an ideal beginner’s DIY project. There are several chicken tractor plans available that can be built for under $100 in materials.
Another advantage to a chicken tractor is that they are constructed without a floor. They simply rest directly on the ground, giving your chickens direct access vegetation and other food sources such as worm and bugs. By providing this type of environment, your flock will essentially be raised as “free range”. Studies have proven that eggs from free range chickens are healthier and more nutritious than grain–fed chickens. A second advantage of having no floor is you’re your yard will receive a rich source of fertilizer. And by moving the tractor around the yard, the routine clean-up required with chicken coops is virtually eliminated.
Building a portable chicken coop is a fairly simple project. For those with some construction experience a detailed set of plans may not be required. But for most, the advantages of purchasing an inexpensive set of chicken coop plans are appealing. Some plans will include a detailed materials list as well as illustrated instructions. The ability of being able to vary the placement of the chicken coop is a huge advantage of this type of design.
Whether you build from plans or design your own tractor, be sure to provide for adequate ventilation, protection from weather, protection from predators, nesting boxes, and provisions for ensuring that your flock always has access to food and water.