Combining chicken tractor and free range...question
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 9:24 pm
Hi, I have 3 chickens who have been housed in a permanent coop and run for the last year, with some free ranging - more in the winter when there aren't vegetables and children in the garden.
I have decided to change their housing to a chicken tractor - because the fixed run is entirely devoid of anything green to eat and with the warmer months coming I won't want them to range over the whole garden so would like them to have access to fresh grass when they're confined.
I have also bought some moveable fencing so I can still let them free range in certain parts of the garden... which leads to my question. If I move the tractor then let them free range will they be confused as to where to find their house at bed time?! I know from another coop move that chickens are creatures of habit - on that occasion despite the new house being at the opposite side of a run around 3 feet away, they all stood where the old house had been waiting for it to appear!
If I leave them in for 24hours each time I move the tractor - will that be enough for them to know where to return? Or will they get used to the idea that their house moves around the garden and look for it? (On the previous occasion it was a different house AND location).
I'm also unsure when the best time is to move the thing - when they're in the house part (will they find that frightening?) - when they're in the run (could be tricky as house and run are not attached) - or when they're out free ranging (easier for me but then they won't know where their house has gone! I might be able to tempt them into it with meal worms but I suppose that'll depend on how hungry they are at the time).
Any experiences - please help?!
I have decided to change their housing to a chicken tractor - because the fixed run is entirely devoid of anything green to eat and with the warmer months coming I won't want them to range over the whole garden so would like them to have access to fresh grass when they're confined.
I have also bought some moveable fencing so I can still let them free range in certain parts of the garden... which leads to my question. If I move the tractor then let them free range will they be confused as to where to find their house at bed time?! I know from another coop move that chickens are creatures of habit - on that occasion despite the new house being at the opposite side of a run around 3 feet away, they all stood where the old house had been waiting for it to appear!
If I leave them in for 24hours each time I move the tractor - will that be enough for them to know where to return? Or will they get used to the idea that their house moves around the garden and look for it? (On the previous occasion it was a different house AND location).
I'm also unsure when the best time is to move the thing - when they're in the house part (will they find that frightening?) - when they're in the run (could be tricky as house and run are not attached) - or when they're out free ranging (easier for me but then they won't know where their house has gone! I might be able to tempt them into it with meal worms but I suppose that'll depend on how hungry they are at the time).
Any experiences - please help?!