I built a chicken train, 10 ft. Works great. I’ll be adding another car to the train 😊, I actually attach it to my mobile tractor and it extends free ranging, SAFELY, FOR MY GIRLS. I COULD ALSO ATTACH TO MY REGULAR 30 X 40 PEN. I WANTED THEM ON GRASS, BUT MUST PROTECT FRO AERIAL PREDATORS, as we sure have them all around. Yor train gave me a simple, economical solution to getting the girls on all natural grass and bugs! Thanks for a good idea! Mine is 10 x 4 x 3ft high.
I think this is an extraordinary extension of a chicken tractor. It is amazing in its use and versatility. Just when you see all things permie, along comes another concept that works. Well done, very well done. Cheers floot
I could watch your chickens all day! My husband told me today we can gets a few chickens next year and I am excited! Love your chicken train idea I think I'm gonna steal it lol. Merry Christmas!
I have an old book on raising livestock and poultry and in it there was something similar, except it was called an chicken ark. I think the idea was to provide the chickens with a free range environment, but keep them safe from predators such as foxes. It was a small hen house with laying boxes, food and water and perches inside and an outside area covered with chicken netting. It was mounted on small steel wheels and put out into the fields. The ark was moved daily or whenever the area it was sitting on had no more green forage left for the chickens. It served multiple needs: the chickens had somewhere to get sunshine and dust baths, they could forage for insects and other things as they scratched up the soil, the soil was being turned over and aerated, pests where being reduced and the chicken droppings were fertilising the soil. All good things, especially if the pasture was going to be used to grazing animals after the chicken ark had moved on and new fodder had grown. Of course, there is no reason the same thing couldn't be applied on smaller lots, as in the above video. Something for the future file.
I love your chickens! Just adorable! I love mine, too. They crack me up all the time. Get your little girl to help, too.....not with construction but, learn about chickens and gardening. The 2 of you together as much as you can....they’re only little for about a week!
I love this! I’m going to do something similar but, make it more like triangle looking....like a teepee. PVC, netting and zip ties are dirt cheap. I’m a 66 year old grandma but, I think I can actually DO THIS!!!
I absolutely love this. What great use of chickens. Did you plant the wheat specifically for the chickens? Do you harvest the wheat berries prior to the chicken tractor or no? Truly fascinating.
top notch vid/idea..............i tend about 3 acres and its big time work with all veggies..............chickens on other side of property, i shall create this tunnel and employ the concept...................thank you Diego
How about avoiding blight by removing the lower leaves of the adjacent tomato plants? This creates more aeration and light for lower fruit on the plants, too. Here inn Milwaukee, I've been trialing over-planting my indeterminate tomatoes into a clump against the ~8' fence along the street-side sidewalk then adding extra cages to allow them to grow in the other (inside) directions. By keeping the clump small and narrow, I can also prune away some of the shaded leaves to harvest the fruit more easily. I can share some of the tiny, tasty marble-sized tomatoes with the neighbors and passers-by, too.
Love the plastic piping concept. I have been thinking of doing something similar but my main concern is the chicken mesh... What would you say is the life span on the mesh? Where I am from it is very expensive and doesn't seem to have a good life span.
Rollerhooks. The string is actually UV treated, low stretch rope. With a high weight capacity. Found it from a rope store online. It wasn't cheap to get a roll of it. Honestly can't remember the source.
Awesome, thanks Diego! I found them on Johnny's, and if anyone else looks at them don't freak out at the price... It's $28, but for a box of 25 of them. I originally thought they were $28/each and I about passed out. :)
Do you not worry about a cat getting into the chicken train? The squares are large enough for a hungry cat could slip into. Just a real, curious question.
How do you hold the tunnel sections in place on the ground? How do you connect one section to the next of the tunnel. Do you leave the chickens out over night and not loss any to predators in the tunnels or runs?
Love the chickens wish I can have some, but I am in HOA not allowing animals like chickens, when I move I will have them one day. U got great ideas to naturally fertilize vegetable beds.
love the train idea. Would you go a 24 inch rather than 28inch train to keep the paths accessable? How long do you think they should be left in a bed? A week seems like they have done a lot of damage.
Yes, narrower might be better long term. Still figuring that out. A week in that bed length is max. The goal isn't to preserve anything in the bed, it's to take it down to the soil. If you were trying to save vegetation, then we are probably talking about 1/2 to 1 day depending on time of year and quality of cover crop.
what type of posts are those green ones that you have for your tomatoes? i was trying to make a t trellis this year and failed so i went with another option. also how tall are they? is there other sizes?
I make a chicken tractor and move it everyday and the chickens kill the grass there is a trail of no grass every place I put it. I think the poop is to strong for the grass
What predates gophers? "Both gophers and moles share several natural enemies, such as snakes, weasels, coyotes, badgers, hawks, and owls." Hmmm - many of which like to eat chicken as well. Tough problem.
Have you ever thought of using a kids play tunnel to use as a connector tunnel, it would be fully enclosed and therefore chickens would mostly likely not even stop inside of it,,,, ??
Yes this is very true. It's nightshade I guarantee the guy has lost chickens. Even I have to random shit. Having tomatoes in a grazing area is the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. They will eat them just like a pig. And they will get sick. First signs are lethargy.
It takes about 30 minutes a week to move them, so yes. It's probably easier with a full time job than it is being self employed because you can leave the job at the office.
.......... if you are self employed you can't leave???? Lol whatever my guy. Bad enough you have chickens able to stick their heads out to eat poisonous plants but hey man whatever you say.
Did any of your chickens get sick or die? Everything I hear and read says green tomato leaves and stems and green tomatoes are poisonous for chickens. Ripe tomatoes are the only safe food for a chicken from the plant. Maybe everyone else is wrong. I would really like to know because I would like to do the same thing you are doing.
greetings from Ghana (West Africa) Thank you for the wonderful idea you have shared. You have Global Fan Following...
I built a chicken train, 10 ft. Works great. I’ll be adding another car to the train 😊, I actually attach it to my mobile tractor and it extends free ranging, SAFELY, FOR MY GIRLS. I COULD ALSO ATTACH TO MY REGULAR 30 X 40 PEN. I WANTED THEM ON GRASS, BUT MUST PROTECT FRO AERIAL PREDATORS, as we sure have them all around. Yor train gave me a simple, economical solution to getting the girls on all natural grass and bugs! Thanks for a good idea! Mine is 10 x 4 x 3ft high.
this train is brilliant! wish i could manage chickens. Be nice, be thankful, and let the chickens do a lot of the work!
I think this is an extraordinary extension of a chicken tractor. It is amazing in its use and versatility. Just when you see all things permie, along comes another concept that works. Well done, very well done.
Cheers floot
I could watch your chickens all day! My husband told me today we can gets a few chickens next year and I am excited! Love your chicken train idea I think I'm gonna steal it lol. Merry Christmas!
I have an old book on raising livestock and poultry and in it there was something similar, except it was called an chicken ark. I think the idea was to provide the chickens with a free range environment, but keep them safe from predators such as foxes. It was a small hen house with laying boxes, food and water and perches inside and an outside area covered with chicken netting. It was mounted on small steel wheels and put out into the fields. The ark was moved daily or whenever the area it was sitting on had no more green forage left for the chickens. It served multiple needs: the chickens had somewhere to get sunshine and dust baths, they could forage for insects and other things as they scratched up the soil, the soil was being turned over and aerated, pests where being reduced and the chicken droppings were fertilising the soil. All good things, especially if the pasture was going to be used to grazing animals after the chicken ark had moved on and new fodder had grown. Of course, there is no reason the same thing couldn't be applied on smaller lots, as in the above video. Something for the future file.
I love your chickens! Just adorable! I love mine, too. They crack me up all the time. Get your little girl to help, too.....not with construction but, learn about chickens and gardening. The 2 of you together as much as you can....they’re only little for about a week!
Your welcome to borrow my Kitty.
Her name is Widow and she will kill every gopher you have in less than a week.
Judging by the looks of those gorgeous chickens they're benefiting as much as you from tearing up your old beds!
Chickens probably shouldn't be eating nightshades.
I love this! I’m going to do something similar but, make it more like triangle looking....like a teepee. PVC, netting and zip ties are dirt cheap. I’m a 66 year old grandma but, I think I can actually DO THIS!!!
I’m Montagnard indigenous , I like you chickens they are so beautiful .
Do you provide water in the train? I didn't see it. Other than that, brilliant idea which I'll definitely be mimicking! Thanks!
First time seeing such a contraption. This is Genius!
Put those girls to work. Of course they love to dig where they shouldn't . Maybe put a board down in the entryway. Make them walk the plank.
Thankyou brother for this idea this is what im looking for GODBLESSED❤
I absolutely love this. What great use of chickens. Did you plant the wheat specifically for the chickens? Do you harvest the wheat berries prior to the chicken tractor or no? Truly fascinating.
That's a lot work 😃 before letting the chicken loose on the garden bed
Oh my gosh... love it... the "chicken train".. love it !!!! Enjoying all your informative videos.... great job!!!
top notch vid/idea..............i tend about 3 acres and its big time work with all veggies..............chickens on other side of property, i shall create this tunnel and employ the concept...................thank you Diego
How about avoiding blight by removing the lower leaves of the adjacent tomato plants? This creates more aeration and light for lower fruit on the plants, too. Here inn Milwaukee, I've been trialing over-planting my indeterminate tomatoes into a clump against the ~8' fence along the street-side sidewalk then adding extra cages to allow them to grow in the other (inside) directions. By keeping the clump small and narrow, I can also prune away some of the shaded leaves to harvest the fruit more easily. I can share some of the tiny, tasty marble-sized tomatoes with the neighbors and passers-by, too.
Yo, feed the worms, the chickens will come.
Love the plastic piping concept. I have been thinking of doing something similar but my main concern is the chicken mesh... What would you say is the life span on the mesh? Where I am from it is very expensive and doesn't seem to have a good life span.
Greetings from Paraguay and keep the good work going Diego
Thanks.
What are those awesome hangers for your tomatoes? And do you use landscape staples to hold the string to the ground? I really like those holders!
Rollerhooks. The string is actually UV treated, low stretch rope. With a high weight capacity. Found it from a rope store online. It wasn't cheap to get a roll of it. Honestly can't remember the source.
Awesome, thanks Diego! I found them on Johnny's, and if anyone else looks at them don't freak out at the price... It's $28, but for a box of 25 of them. I originally thought they were $28/each and I about passed out. :)
You just solved 1 of my questions. Thanks!
Happy chooks doin the work for you brill...
is it like moles there is poison worms for moles that you put in their tunnes.
Do you have directions on how to build the chicken train?
Do you not worry about a cat getting into the chicken train? The squares are large enough for a hungry cat could slip into. Just a real, curious question.
nice, keep those chickens working for ya lol
How do you hold the tunnel sections in place on the ground? How do you connect one section to the next of the tunnel. Do you leave the chickens out over night and not loss any to predators in the tunnels or runs?
Tunnels were just set end to end and not connect. Just anchored to the ground by their weight. Chickens were only in here during the day.
Love the chickens wish I can have some, but I am in HOA not allowing animals like chickens, when I move I will have them one day. U got great ideas to naturally fertilize vegetable beds.
Greetings from Arkansas! And holy smokes this is such a brilliant idea! Thank you for sharing!
love the train idea. Would you go a 24 inch rather than 28inch train to keep the paths accessable? How long do you think they should be left in a bed? A week seems like they have done a lot of damage.
Yes, narrower might be better long term. Still figuring that out. A week in that bed length is max. The goal isn't to preserve anything in the bed, it's to take it down to the soil. If you were trying to save vegetation, then we are probably talking about 1/2 to 1 day depending on time of year and quality of cover crop.
what type of posts are those green ones that you have for your tomatoes? i was trying to make a t trellis this year and failed so i went with another option. also how tall are they? is there other sizes?
8ft T posts. I need taller.
What a creative guy you are！
Curious if you ever modified the train to metal
Great Ideas.....liking the Chicken Train
Diego, what are the reels you're using for your tomatoes? Do they self-tension?
Roller hooks - not self-tensioning.
I’ve been wondering how to do something similar. Awesomeness!
I make a chicken tractor and move it everyday and the chickens kill the grass there is a trail of no grass every place I put it. I think the poop is to strong for the grass
You give the gopher juicy fruit gum stick. They die and become fertilizer
what about earwigs? chickens eat them, right?
What predates gophers? "Both gophers and moles share several natural enemies, such as snakes, weasels, coyotes, badgers, hawks, and owls." Hmmm - many of which like to eat chicken as well. Tough problem.
Snakes, owls, coyotes, hawks. But doesn't seem to work fast enough.
Have you ever thought of using a kids play tunnel to use as a connector tunnel, it would be fully enclosed and therefore chickens would mostly likely not even stop inside of it,,,, ??
Great idea!
I was told my several people that tomato clippings can be harmful to chickens. True?
I literally dump in totes worth. None have died yet. I think they know when to stop eating.
Yes this is very true. It's nightshade I guarantee the guy has lost chickens. Even I have to random shit. Having tomatoes in a grazing area is the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. They will eat them just like a pig. And they will get sick. First signs are lethargy.
Doesn't pot ash and or magnesium sulfate salts help against blight?
Not in my experience. The only chance of success against it is to grow plants that have genetics which have shown strength against it.
Dangle the side rails inward to add walking space
Great idea
I see an orange tomato. Have you harvested any yet?
Today yes. When the chickens got out they actually got the first one about 10 days ago. :)
where do they lay the eggs
In a permanent coop.
There must be a covercrop that is rodent deterrent.
You could be a 1M subscriber star. Super smart, innovative, and hard working. That grammar though...
Thanks, not sure what that means though.
How do you get them tunneled in there?
The portable tunnel attaches to their main run by a tiny tunnel.
is all this really practical if you have a real full time job?
It takes about 30 minutes a week to move them, so yes. It's probably easier with a full time job than it is being self employed because you can leave the job at the office.
.......... if you are self employed you can't leave???? Lol whatever my guy. Bad enough you have chickens able to stick their heads out to eat poisonous plants but hey man whatever you say.
Interesting. Kansas
How about see salts?
Did any of your chickens get sick or die? Everything I hear and read says green tomato leaves and stems and green tomatoes are poisonous for chickens. Ripe tomatoes are the only safe food for a chicken from the plant. Maybe everyone else is wrong. I would really like to know because I would like to do the same thing you are doing.
Check out black hole gopher traps. I’ve had amazing results hundreds and hundreds of successful traps. Easy to use
Thanks. Ordered a couple to try.
Is it economic??
Don't know. That's not a factor in the why.
Hello. Chickens can eat tomatoes, but NOT Leaves as they can kill chickens.
I think that is a myth. My chickens have eaten the leaves for years with no problems.
gotta make a chunnel! love it :)
Way cool.
Buy some milky spore Walmart web site
It will get rid of your moles or gophers for twenty years.
PVC
wont chicken crap burn the [plants???
Not at this concentration.
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