I'm thinking of getting this from craig's list. See any huge flaws I should be aware of?
What do you think of this tractor?
That is very cute! And I love the color. My only newbie concern would be that it appears from the photo that the wire is attached to the inside of the posts and that a determined dog (or coyote) would be able to push their way through. That would be easy to re-enforce, though. Can you get to the eggs from the side?
Good luck with you purchase.
So the wire should be on the outside?
This will actually be inside my vegie garden where dogs can't get to it. We are fully fenced so hopefully won't be having coyotes or other predators. Haven't had any yet but have never had chickens either. I'm hoping we don't have a case of 'if you feed them, they will come' sort of thing.
I don't believe you can get to the eggs from the outside I actually am looking at one by the same people but a different 'coop' design, more cape cod style. I have asked them to send me pics of the inside.
Here's the one I'm preferring. It goes better in my setting.
I'm wondering about the size of the opening of the wire. It's not hardware cloth.
Also, on this one, it appears there is chicken wire on the door. I'm wondering if that shouldn't be a solid door. I may be having her build me a shorter run, 6' instead of 8' because I want to move it among my garden that has 3' paths. I could ask her to make me a different door too.
The wire of other fencing should always be on the same side as the creatures you want to keep out (or in). For example, if you are running fencing for cattle, the wire should be on the same side as the cattle. The chickens don't weigh that much so I would have the fencing on the outside. It looks like I have the same style of wire that is pictured for my chicken run (I'm pretty much a newbie by the way). When I let my ten two month old Buff Brahmas outside I saw that they were sticking their little heads out through the wire. So I added a run of chicken wire right over the top of the existing wire along the bottom of the run. I attached it using those plastic wire ties. I was easy, cheap, and it worked. I don't want to mislead you into thinking that I am some kind of fencing expert; however, we have a coyote problem and a stray dog problem here.
My chickens like having a couple of open windows all of the time. My coop has the no climb coated wire as screening over the windows.
I think it is adorable.
Hardware cloth is definitely preferable to chicken wire. If the woman will build to order, I would try to have her use 1/2" hardware cloth and pay the difference. Especially if it is going to be the chicken's night lodging. Raccoons and skunks are notorious for reaching in and pulliing the chickens through chicken wire (or at least their heads).
Of course I put my chicks out in a tractor made of PVC pipes and chicken wire when the weather is nice--but I am in the city with 7 foot stockade fences and the only predator problem I have had so far is the California Jays who took some chicks when the chicks' mothers were free-ranging and the Jays had chicks of their own to feed.
Terri, I'm going for looks with this one and would prefer not to have to put another wire on top of this wire. Maybe I'll mention to the woman building the runs what you suggest on the wire being on the outside.
I'm not familiar with no climb wire.
would the chickens want the open window even on such a small tractor coop? I can see on a larger coop how that would be nice.
I was at a chicken coop tour last Saturday and there was one place where two neighbors had adjoining coops. Each had a coop and then a run which connected thru a fence. They said that the chickens always chose to spend the night in one of the coops and they figured it was because the other one had glass windows and they didn't feel secure in it. They chose the one that was all shut up. (The one with the glass windows are adorable! I would have slept in it.)
Catscan, I think I'm going to look at it tomorrow and then ask her to custom build one for me with the run with better wire. I'd prefer to pick the whole thing up tomorrow and bring it home, but I guess it's not to be. It's a long drive and a ferry ride too. Sigh. This has been such a long process for me, this whole coop thing. I'm too picky I guess, but since I'm buying and paying top dollar, I want to get something I'll be happy with.
I think it's darling! I wish I could have a few of those! :)
Good luck..
Thanks, ZZ. I was all set to order this one and then saw the cute one on Craigs List. This one appears much more solid (also more expensive but not a huge amount more) but is not as cute I don't think. This one is 3'x6' and turns in a 3' path, so would have been perfect. If only I didn't see the other one!
love it, that is so adorable!!!!!
Gwen I don't like it!!! It's just to darn cute. Haystack
If I had my pick.. I like the looks of the first one.
I built the playhouse coops and I wish I had 10 of them.. they are sooo handy.
ZZ, the barn one? It's cute but the cape cod style goes perfectly with our English garden style garden and farmhouse.
Hay, I promise to make the big coop in the back not so cute.
The cottage and barn are really cute, but the quonset hut looks much better constructed, last forever? Also rather remides me of an old "Airstream" trailer!
Like I said.. I like the looks of the first one.. That's the luxury of not having to pick the functionality or quality of construction.. I get to say which one is cute.. :)
Well ZZ's I guess the question was "what do you think" That leaves it wide open, to cute, to cute! Don't like it, To Cute. I want an airstream!!! Haystack
I've been looking at one from Randall Burkey (I'll post a picture if I can figure out how) that has a screen door for summer and a solid one for winter. Also, my yard and coop are both fenced to the "inside" and I haven't had any problems, but then I don't live in a place prone to a lot of wildlife (the builders took care of that... grrr...). I'd take any of the 3, but if I had my druthers I think the cottage.
They all three are very cute, I think! Don't wory about being to picky. I was too and waited until I found just the very thing to suit my situation. Now I have a fairly large and safe place to have my chickens and it was so worth it! Just hang in there. You'll know you've found just the right one when you see it! And then....on the chickens!
This message was edited Jul 28, 2009 12:29 PM
Well, I brought home the coop part. Have to go back Thursday to get the run. I hope it's okay. So small up top there's no way the roost can be 18 inches from each wall. Also, I'm unsure how easy it'll be to clean.