Pastured poultry is an ideal way to produce succulent broilers and delicious eggs. With this method, chickens are kept in pens called chicken tractors. This method of husbandry is a compromise between cage or barn birds and free-range chickens. Raising poultry on pasture is gaining popularity as new innovations make the process easier.
Pastured poultry spend their time in chicken tractors which provide them with good shelter but also give them access to pasture or grass. The tractor, and the chickens, is moved onto fresh grass on a regular basis. As part of managed intensive grazing, the method works very well. Because of difficulties with providing adequate shelter, keeping chickens on pasture is not so popular with large numbers of birds. Customers are convinced this method of raising chickens results in tastier, more tender meat. Because of the continual supply of green feed, the chickens lay eggs with bright, golden yellow yolks.
There are dozens of innovative ways to make up suitable tractors. Much depends on the climate in your area. Many are made from scrap materials. Some chicken farmers use welded electrical conduit which is very lightweight. Or the entire frame can be made of PVC pipe which is lighter but of comparable cost to wood. You might want to use UV-stabilized PVC as it can become brittle after a few seasons of very cold weather.
Timber is often used in the construction of tractors. Use lightweight timber. Corrugated metal roofs are common. You may want to consider lightweight steel or aluminium for the roof. Iron roofs in full sun will need some sort of cooling. Painting the iron white with special reflective paint will help. Adding a second roof of cloth over the first is another solution. Leave a space between the two to encourage air flow.
Moving the pens is sometimes difficult, especially if pens are heavy. Skids or wheels can be fitted to make moving easier. By having PVC as the lower rails, the tractor will bounce over grassy bumps much easier.
Some tractors have axles fitted to each corner. When it is time to reposition the tractor, it can be moved in whichever direction is required. If feed and water containers are hung from the top rail, there will be no need to remove them every time the tractor is repositioned.
While smaller tractors are easier to move, they are more work if you have a lot of birds. An allowance of ten square feet per bird is acceptable. Chickens, particularly broilers, do not cope well with high temperatures and high humidity. Improve cooling by covering cage roofs with additional cheap bed-sheeting to reflect some of the heat. Soaker hoses laid on the roof act as evaporative coolers.
Tarpaulin or canvas is another option for the roof. These can be furled up when the weather is hot. Make a peaked roof if you intend to use these materials. Provide extra ventilation by covering the triangles under the peak with netting. Raise the back of the tractor a few inches to provide extra air flow. With a little thought and innovation, caring for pastured poultry will be a pleasure.
Pastured poultry spend their time in chicken tractors which provide them with good shelter but also give them access to pasture or grass. The tractor, and the chickens, is moved onto fresh grass on a regular basis. As part of managed intensive grazing, the method works very well. Because of difficulties with providing adequate shelter, keeping chickens on pasture is not so popular with large numbers of birds. Customers are convinced this method of raising chickens results in tastier, more tender meat. Because of the continual supply of green feed, the chickens lay eggs with bright, golden yellow yolks.
There are dozens of innovative ways to make up suitable tractors. Much depends on the climate in your area. Many are made from scrap materials. Some chicken farmers use welded electrical conduit which is very lightweight. Or the entire frame can be made of PVC pipe which is lighter but of comparable cost to wood. You might want to use UV-stabilized PVC as it can become brittle after a few seasons of very cold weather.
Timber is often used in the construction of tractors. Use lightweight timber. Corrugated metal roofs are common. You may want to consider lightweight steel or aluminium for the roof. Iron roofs in full sun will need some sort of cooling. Painting the iron white with special reflective paint will help. Adding a second roof of cloth over the first is another solution. Leave a space between the two to encourage air flow.
Moving the pens is sometimes difficult, especially if pens are heavy. Skids or wheels can be fitted to make moving easier. By having PVC as the lower rails, the tractor will bounce over grassy bumps much easier.
Some tractors have axles fitted to each corner. When it is time to reposition the tractor, it can be moved in whichever direction is required. If feed and water containers are hung from the top rail, there will be no need to remove them every time the tractor is repositioned.
While smaller tractors are easier to move, they are more work if you have a lot of birds. An allowance of ten square feet per bird is acceptable. Chickens, particularly broilers, do not cope well with high temperatures and high humidity. Improve cooling by covering cage roofs with additional cheap bed-sheeting to reflect some of the heat. Soaker hoses laid on the roof act as evaporative coolers.
Tarpaulin or canvas is another option for the roof. These can be furled up when the weather is hot. Make a peaked roof if you intend to use these materials. Provide extra ventilation by covering the triangles under the peak with netting. Raise the back of the tractor a few inches to provide extra air flow. With a little thought and innovation, caring for pastured poultry will be a pleasure.
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