How to Build a Chicken Tractor (Mobile Coop)
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
9AM - 12PM
VSU Ag Engineering Bldg, Main Campus
This educational workshop is free and open to the public.
THIS EVENT HAS REACHED CAPACITY AND REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.
A portable chicken tractor or mobile coop is a lightweight structure that can be moved easily from one part of your yard or field to another. Due to its size and portability, mobile coops are ideal for those who are raising smaller flocks, and there are several benefits to using a mobile coop either as primary housing for your chickens or along with your stationary coop, including:
REDUCED FEED COSTS The ability to move your coop to new areas with grass, worms and insects can reduce your feed costs.
IMPROVED TASTE Nutrient content and flavor of both eggs and meat are increased when chickens are feed a diverse diet that includes vegetation, insects and worms.
REDUCED LABOR Foraging chickens will keep grass and weeds low, reduce your mosquito and biting gnat populations in your yard, and you do not have to clean out manure in your mobile coop.
SOIL IMPROVEMENT Chicken manure is an excellent natural fertilizer that provides potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and micro nutrients to your soil. Chicken manure increases soil organic matter, promotes soil microbe biodiversity and can improve soil structure and moisture holding capacity.
REDUCE FINANCIAL RISK A mobile coop protects against flock loss due to ground and air predators and reduces flock stress which can help prevent illnesses.
Join Small Farm Agent Tracy Porter at this hands-on workshop to show participants how to select, design and construct an easy-to-build, low-cost chicken tractor. Proper and safe use of equipment and tools used for coop construction will be covered during the workshop. Participants will also receive a material list for supplies to purchase and build their own chicken tractor. This is a scalable design that you can make as large or as small to fit your needs.
For more information, contact Small Farm Outreach Program Agent Tracy Porter at (804) 481-2566 or tporter@vsu.edu or call the Small Farm Outreach Program office at (804) 524-3292.
VSU AG ENGINEERING BUILDING
Located on campus at Virginia State University, use this link to view and download a campus map.
The Ag Engineering Building is at Myster-Macklin Street (near bottom, left on the map.)
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact the Small Farm Outreach Program office (smallfarm@vsu.edu) or call (804) 524-3292 / TDD (800) 828-1120 during business hours of 8 am. and 5 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event.