From Scrap to Sanctuary: Building a Mobile Chicken Fortress & Thriving Homestead Hacks

[Artenen]

First off, that chicken tractor build – pretty cool to see it moving around! It's got me thinking more about mobile coop options. We've been using a static coop for a while now and it's great but the idea of regularly moving chickens to fresh pasture is really appealing. The benefits of rotational grazing for chickens (and the land) are huge. The chickens get a constant supply of fresh forage and bug life, which reduces the need for feed and gives them a healthier diet, and their manure fertilizes the pasture. Plus, constantly moving the chickens around will help reduce the chance of a pathogen build up in one area.



But thinking about the history of chicken tractors, it's not a new concept. Gardeners have been moving their chickens around in various versions of portable pens for centuries. Before our modern materials, folks would create simple structures made from lightweight wood or woven willow branches, sometimes with wheels attached. These structures were often smaller, intended for just a few birds, and they served a dual purpose of weed control and soil preparation, as chickens scratch and turn the earth while hunting for bugs. The real innovation of today is the ability to use old materials and weld them together to make these projects.

Products Used In This Video -

https://amzn.to/3TF7IAs 4.10/3.50-4" Flat Free Tire and Wheel (4-Pack) - 10 Inch Solid Rubber Tires with 5/8" Bearings, 2.2" Offset Hub - Compatible with Garden Wagon Carts, Hand Truck, Wheelbarrow, Dolly, Utility Cart

https://amzn.to/3TEmszK Adjustable Trailer Coupler and 3-Position Channel Bracket Kit, 2-5/16" Hitch Ball,Capacity 15000 lbs,Black (3-Position)

https://amzn.to/3PKnyc6 3 Point 2" Receiver Trailer Hitch Heavy Duty Drawbar Adapter Category 1 Tractor Tow Compatible for Kubota, BX, LM25H, WLM Tractor, NorTrac, Yanmar, Kioti, Cat, John Deere

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Some things I would suggest in addition to what was shown would be to try to get the chickens a bit more height, and make sure the tractor is easy to move.

Here’s what I’ve learned from my experience and some other sources:

• Wheel Choice: Solid rubber tires, as used in the video, are pretty durable and good for uneven terrain. However, if you are on soft soil, consider using wider wheels to reduce sinking. Or, for lighter tractors, you can even repurpose old bicycle wheels.
• Protection from Predators: Hardware cloth is essential for protecting against digging predators as it mentioned. Consider adding a skirt of hardware cloth around the base of the tractor, extending a few inches underground. That makes it extra difficult for diggers like raccoons. If you have concerns about aerial predators, using mesh on the top is recommended to prevent hawks or owls from being an issue.
• Roofing: In the video, they just used what they had and it's great for keeping out the rain, but if you live in an area with intense sun, a partial shade roof or a system for adding additional shade on particularly hot days may be an improvement for the comfort of your birds.
• Interior: Add a roosting bar of some sort and consider building some mobile nesting boxes into the design to allow for egg laying.
• Water and Feed: Don't forget to have ways to easily add fresh water and food into your chicken tractor. If you are only moving the chickens every few days, you'll want something sturdy to make sure they don't run out. Consider adding a nipple system into the water tank for easy access with reduced risk of tipping.

Now, about the rest of the homestead work... Those seed tags with the extra data are a clever idea. I've been using simple labels and find myself constantly looking up dates and optimal conditions. I think the thermal printer idea is the way to go with adding that extra data and the ink fading isn't an issue with that type of printer.

And the worm bucket splitting? That's awesome to see those baby worms thriving! I am thinking about making some black soldier fly hotels for the birds, but in the meantime I'm trying to get my worm farms established. A great source for information about setting up a worm farm is "Worms Eat My Garbage" by Mary Appelhof. She has a ton of information on getting it set up right from the start. It is important to get the carbon and nitrogen ratio right and to make sure it has proper moisture control. Also make sure you don't overfeed them or the bin can begin to become anaerobic.

Here are some extra points I’ve discovered from using worm castings:

• Don’t Sift Everything: Like they mentioned in the video, leaving some of the larger particles in helps to retain moisture and is also great for the chickens if you do plan to add it to their diet.
• Using for Seed Starts: When making your seed starts, try adding about 1/4 worm castings to your soil mix to give it a natural boost and also help retain moisture.
• Tea Time: Don't throw out the liquid at the bottom of your worm bins either! Worm casting "tea" is great to use to fertilize established plants.

Finally, the gutter installation and the fixes to the canoe planter...it’s a constant learning process on a homestead, it seems like. I learned the hard way about drainage when I first started gardening! Now, I always make sure that pots and planters have good drainage. One trick is to add a layer of broken pottery shards at the bottom of the container before you put the soil in to help make sure the drainage holes won't clog.

These projects are definitely keeping me busy, and I'm grateful for the old ways that help to make homesteading so interesting. I'm always learning, and it is fun to see others go through similar processes.