...We were getting ready to move out chicks out to the tractor today. The bottom of the small coop on top of the tractor drops down entirely. It's made of 1x2 and also some pieces slightly wider nailed together in a flat surface. So we were going to put little 'steps' on that for traction for them. But how do you keep it clean? Essentially their roosts are right on top of the floor, the entire thing drops down (so you can't use litter because that would spill out every day when you dropped it). Even with only two or three chickens in there, the poop is going to build up on that wood quickly.
What do people with tractors do?
For anyone who uses a chicken tractor...
I read that you can use a putty knife to scrape the wood down--a big one. So that is what I do once it has dried. I also use a sort of metal bristle barbecue brush that has a scraper on it.
It really isn't so bad once it is dry--but it just smears around if you try when it's fresh.
I have wood floors and ramps in my coops and just dust them with a light coat of saw dust. It makes scraping up the droppings quite easy. I scrape and redust daily; it only takes a few minutes.
Where do you get the sawdust?
My husband has a wood shop, but you can buy a pelleted pet bedding "Woody Pet" is one brand - add water and it turns into saw dust - a lot of saw dust!
Heh, heh, heh....a lot! I like the idea...now to find me some.....
One problem with this tractor is that I can't get to the floor.
I'm going to relist it on Craig's list. I think it's a poor design. :( It was really $$$ too. Biiiiig mistake!
Do you have a picture of it, Gwendalou?
Here it is. Very cute. But not a great design, imo. One half of the lid opens for egg gathering. Two nest boxes take up a lot of room and it has been very hot in there since it's so small. The chicken wire on the door and window worries me altho it's very sturdily secured. But the wire itself worries me.
Also the size - just too small for 3 chickens. Two is more like it and then I still worry about the heat in the coop part during warm weather.
I took it back yesterday. I just couldn't get past how I would clean it. It was cute tho, I have to give it that.
