Chicken Tractor Permaculture

Chicken tractor permaculture is an efficient and productive way of caring for chickens without harming the environment.  Have you ever seen what even a small flock of hens can do to an area if they are left there long enough?  Leave hens in one place for even a couple of weeks, and all the grass will disappear, leaving you with bare ground and a lot of mess.

Chickens love to devour grass and insects in addition to the feed you supply them. Your flock was never meant exist on a diet based solely on chicken feed. Will they survive on nothing but chicken feed? Absolutely, but they will produce eggs with a darker yolk and more vitamins and nutrients if they get a more natural diet.

Keep them cooped in a traditional coop and yard, and they will not only be lacking in fresh greens and protein, but they are also more likely to contract parasites.

Some chicken owners solve this problem by allowing their hens to roam free during the day and locking them up at night. But let your hens run loose, and your flock is left exposed to predators. I know this from personal experience. We tried allowing our chickens to run free for a while, and the birds disappeared from our property one by one. At one point, the coyotes even ran into our front yard looking for chickens to kill.

And collecting eggs is also a challenge if your children are allowed a free run. Chickens like laying their eggs in a nesting box, but they might also choose a clump of tall grass, and then you won't find the eggs until they have spoiled. Also, our dog frequently stole the eggs she found on the ground. She had a lovely coat, but we didn't get to enjoy the eggs.

That's where chicken tractor permaculture comes in.  A moveable chicken tractor gives your hens access to the fresh grass and insects they crave, while providing them with the protection they need.  But there's an added benefit to a chicken tractor. 

Related article: How to grow your own chicken feed.

Chicken Tractor Permaculture
Means No Smell

The problem with a stationary hen house is that it gets smelly pretty quickly.  Loaded with manure, the area where your hens live quickly becomes a toxic site that could make your birds sick if you don't clean it often enough. 

And as I mentioned earlier, the grass in a chicken yard disappears within a couple of weeks. It's not a pleasant view, and it's discouraging to see the bare ground in your chicken yard.

Keeping chickens in a stationary chicken coop means a higher feed cost and more work removing manure.  Using a moveable chicken tractor eliminates much of the mess and smell.

Related article: Thinking of raising chicks? Read these tips.

Better For Your Lawn

Plus, a moveable chicken tractor won't just keep your birds from destroying your lawn.  Rather, the chicken tractor works with your lawn and will actually feed and strengthen your grass.  As the hens scratch for bugs and grass, your lawn gets aerated and fertilized naturally.  Your organic "lawn service" will do wonders for your grass.

new bare ground

For example, this is what our grass looked like immediately after we removed the portable coop. This was after one full day of the chicken treatment. It might not look very pretty in this picture, but check out how it looks a week or so later:

darker grass

Look carefully, and you can actually see the line where the chicken tractor was.  Keep one of these moveable chicken tractors in your backyard, move it daily, and you'll have a lush, dark green lawn by the end of the summer thanks to chicken tractor permaculture.

Better still, your pasture-fed hens will produce eggs with lower cholesterol and more of the healthy vitamins your body needs.

Related article: How to raise chickens for meat

Ready to Get Started?

Building a moveable chicken tractor isn't as hard or complicated as you think. Moveable chicken coops on wheels can be found on Amazon and other places. You can also purchase a smaller, lighter chicken coop and pull it to different places. Just be careful and make sure you keep your back straight as you pull, or you may be making a visit to the chiropractor's office.

Learn More About Raising Chickens

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About the Author

My name is Sue Merriam, and I began the journey of self-reliant living more than three decades ago, which enabled me to stay home with my children. Fifteen years ago, I founded Joyful Homesteading to help others save money and face the future without fear. My goal is to give you practical, honest advice so you can save money and experience the joy of simple living. I hope you join me.

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