tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post8096268510103568278..comments2024-03-23T05:42:07.516-04:00Comments on The Deliberate Agrarian: John Suscovich,His Nifty Chicken TractorandThe Young-Farmer MovementHerrick Kimballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-46523760507878337422022-02-12T05:39:35.269-05:002022-02-12T05:39:35.269-05:00Needless to say how right you are regarding the dr...Needless to say how right you are regarding the dream of our young generation. They are really passionate about some good-paying job to build their future career and for a dreamy luxurious life. But if we all hanker after high paid job, what will be the other sectors that also are essential for our life. Just discovered your well-valued post and was impressed how you bring the agriculture section into an important focus with huge possibilities. Glad to know about John Suscovich and his agriculture passion. It might be the great inspiration of our your people. Thanks for your fantastic job. My browsing story was to learn about <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?cid=16494488656167712245" rel="nofollow">Roofers Folsom</a> but this was made me so so happy. BonitaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03773590708972615409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-19578568241477748942020-05-03T20:54:16.158-04:002020-05-03T20:54:16.158-04:00There is a chapter in John's book about predat...There is a chapter in John's book about predators. Is good to say that an electric string around the group of chicken tractor is necessary. Juan Diego Ortiz & Sol Acostahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17392141648682983088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-50677092331894181542015-02-18T19:45:11.947-05:002015-02-18T19:45:11.947-05:00I read somewhere that you can use these for rabbit...I read somewhere that you can use these for rabbits too. <br />They said to add chicken wire to the bottom part of the cage so the rabbits can't dig under and get out. When I get my little farm going I plan on doing something like this for both rabbits and chickens.<br />Great idea!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-18863698474735782562013-12-28T19:54:54.904-05:002013-12-28T19:54:54.904-05:00I recently bought the plans and built this tractor...I recently bought the plans and built this tractor. I am two weeks out from harvesting my first batch of chickens In it. I really like the height compared to other designs and I actually do go inside pretty often. It may sound crazy but sometimes I hang out inside with them and observe how long they eat and drink water. <br />I use a 5 gal bucket to fill the water bucket so I have to do this from the inside. I found that I can feed them from the door by lifting one side of the PVC feeder and letting it slide to the other end until it fills. Then I can move the tractor since they follow the feed as I'm moving it and most of them move along good although a few are getting a little slow the biggest they get. I then can go in with the water and walk on fresh grass instead of a buch of poop. <br />I highly recommend the design. My biggest problem was bending the conduit which was the last thing I expected to have trouble with. I finally figured out what to do with the help of an online conduit bending calculator I found online. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-4981608275114343772013-12-05T10:49:22.195-05:002013-12-05T10:49:22.195-05:00Herrick, I accidently duplicated some items on an ...Herrick, I accidently duplicated some items on an order. But I can't find an email link to contact you so I'm posting here. Please tell me how to contact you concerning this.<br />Debbie KirklandAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-9224194644839041942013-11-29T11:52:54.356-05:002013-11-29T11:52:54.356-05:00Hi Warren,
That is a good analysis. Thanks for po...Hi Warren,<br /><br />That is a good analysis. Thanks for posting it. I still plan to build something akin to the design, but I'm not a commercial poultry raiser. I think that walking into the cage would be an especially nice feature when it comes time to round the birds up for "processing."Herrick Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-46176228531537643162013-11-29T10:28:47.094-05:002013-11-29T10:28:47.094-05:00Herrick,
I try not to be a Salatinite and I belie...Herrick,<br /><br />I try not to be a Salatinite and I believe (as I think Joel does too) that his ideas are just waiting to be improved upon by the next generation. That said, there seems to be some design issues with this one from my own experience (I've raised several hundred chickens over the last few years). I would like your thoughts on them:<br /><br />1. Although it seems nice to be able to walk in the tractor, this is rarely necessary on a daily or even weekly basis. At the same time, it seems like it leave the chickens exposed to a lot more of the elements. This is good if it is a warm sunny day, bad if it is a wet cold rain.<br /><br />2. The "standard" Salatin tractor is 10x12, or 120 square feet, and holds approximately 70+ chickens. This one is less then half the size and holds less than half the chickens. For commercial application, I am moving twice as many tractors (twice as much time) for the same number of chickens. <br /><br />3. I lost several chickens from paws through the chicken wire before adding hardware cloth to the bottom 12". I can only imagine that would be a requirement (as you mention).<br /><br />4. It seems like he has traded out the weight of the metal roofing for the weight of the hefty structure. Only time will tell if this is a worthwhile trade.<br /><br />All in all, I would have liked to have seen several years of testing before all the marketing. If he changes the design or continues to tweak (as we all will do), everything will need to be updated. My initial thought is that it is a good family tractor for small batches each year and in that sense, is a lot more fun than the Salatin tractor.<br /><br />Thanks for exposing me to new ideas!Warrennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-1425160176344847152013-11-27T19:47:19.254-05:002013-11-27T19:47:19.254-05:00Shheila—
Thanks very much for the great feedback o...Shheila—<br />Thanks very much for the great feedback on the clothespins. I so glad that you are happy with them.Herrick Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-83088301088524876632013-11-25T09:59:22.178-05:002013-11-25T09:59:22.178-05:00Very nice, and it's so refreshing to hear abou...Very nice, and it's so refreshing to hear about young people getting "the light" I will be checking out that book for sure. I hope to have chickens this spring, and had considered a tractor too. <br /><br />I got my clothespins together too, and I LOVE THEM! <br /><br />You see, I'm from the "old school" and even the ones I remember from my youth, were never this good. I had to do almost no sanding either, they turned out perfect, and I just know that they will last a very long time. I am really thrilled with them.<br /><br />I will be purchasing more too.<br />Sheilanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-18652929048243674942013-11-24T15:39:37.169-05:002013-11-24T15:39:37.169-05:00Hi Sonja,
I'm glad to know this post has been...Hi Sonja,<br /><br />I'm glad to know this post has been inspiring for you. I wish you the very best as you pursue your farming dream.Herrick Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-22697362249273552332013-11-24T14:53:16.409-05:002013-11-24T14:53:16.409-05:00Thank you for this post. It is very inspiring to m...Thank you for this post. It is very inspiring to me, as both my parents were raised on family farms, but got "careers" and I ended up on a "career" path too. My dad went back to farming 30 years ago and now doing the same is all I can think about.I have debt and other obstacles but I know with determination and some sacrifice it can be done.Sonja McCartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-77239259828610991972013-11-23T05:51:32.938-05:002013-11-23T05:51:32.938-05:00Muns,
Thanks for the positive feedback on the clot...Muns,<br />Thanks for the positive feedback on the clothespins. I do have a clever clothespin assembly tool that a friend of mine invented. You are right that there is some very small variation in the springs and I think that is just the way it is with an inexpensive torsion spring. I watched the cnc spring-making machine make some of the springs. It is a technological wonder. Then they go on a conveyor through an oven for heat treatement and the coil tightens up. I think the minor variation happens during the heat treatment .<br /><br />Cynthia,<br />Raising a few broilers will be a great family project. It's a good feeling to have your own homegrown chickens in the freezer.Herrick Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-32365767110511125672013-11-23T03:54:56.797-05:002013-11-23T03:54:56.797-05:00We're thinking of doing a few broilers this sp...We're thinking of doing a few broilers this spring. This tractor would do nicely. Thanks for the link.Cyndi Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05794693752183307243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-17802399608361725222013-11-22T22:05:52.984-05:002013-11-22T22:05:52.984-05:00Hi Herrick,
Interesting - I've got his webpage...Hi Herrick,<br />Interesting - I've got his webpage bookmarked for further reading. Thanks - <br /><br />Well I just got my clothespins. Ha - tried to puzzle out the best way to assemble without looking at your directions. Well that lasted about 1 minute with a busted fingernail to boot (not really broke - just bent…) . Once I looked at your assembly picture I saw my error and had them together in a breeze. I reckon you must have some sort of tool to quickly assemble the hundreds you've sold. Either you made a mistake or I lucked out because the wood “pins” needed no sanding whatsoever. I'll use them indoors for model building and light clamping. Very fine product and I think a bargain. They’ll last forever indoors and a long time outdoors if given a modicum of protection from sunlight and rain. <br />Kind Regards,<br />Muns <br /><br />P.S. Interesting to note there seemed to be a variance in spring tension when assembling. None were loose and all clamp extremely very well but I thought I felt a definite difference in tension in a few springs. Possibly a point of discussion when you order your next batch.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-41478859449801772142013-11-22T21:03:30.566-05:002013-11-22T21:03:30.566-05:00Sunnybrook Farm,
Metal lath would do it. A Strand ...Sunnybrook Farm,<br />Metal lath would do it. A Strand of electric fencing around the tractors would also make a big difference. This is mentioned in the e-book.Herrick Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-62060428294112931902013-11-22T20:57:47.938-05:002013-11-22T20:57:47.938-05:00Hi Kathi,
Thanks for the comment. Any kind of &qu...Hi Kathi,<br /><br />Thanks for the comment. Any kind of "tractor" full of chickens is a temptation to various predators. John discusses this in his book and has a picture of a bobcat by one of his tractors. Any varmint would have to work very hard to get through a well-wired tractor. 1/2" hardware cloth can be put on the lower 2' of frame for the best defense. I've lost chicks to a small critter getting through a gap under the frame.Herrick Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-13895990656000987132013-11-22T20:56:51.227-05:002013-11-22T20:56:51.227-05:00I like the design, simple and effective though I w...I like the design, simple and effective though I would replace the low chicken wire with the metal lath material that comes in sheets, it is very strong yet you can see through it. I might even put a battery powered fence charger on it as we are overrun with coyotes, coons, fox and even bob cats. A design like this can be modified easily! Sunnybrook Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18135224259672444423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-49856903534817175422013-11-22T20:34:08.626-05:002013-11-22T20:34:08.626-05:00Very attractive...but alas our local raccoons and ...Very attractive...but alas our local raccoons and foxes would see this as a travelling buffet..Lovethiscottage.blogspot.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03022398491333206062noreply@blogger.com