DUAL PURPOSE GARDENING | The Most Sustainable Backyard Garden System

Using a chicken tractor in the backyard garden is one of the most sustainable ways to create a constant nutrient supply for your garden soil while getting daily fresh eggs at the same time. Join us as we explain our chicken tractor cover cropping system and how it has been so valuable to us over the last year and a half.
We'll move our chicken tractor onto a lush new cover crop plot with an overwintering mix full of rye, barley, clover, vetch, peas, and more! We'll explain the nutritional components of this mix and why we don't have to give our chickens any additional layer food while they're eating this cover crop.
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[@DV-ol7vt]

I used to keep about 10 to 12 layers and a roster or two on 50 acres free range back when no one called it free range. They never went further than 10 acres and I never fed them other than a handful of scratch once a week and that was just to keep them from running off. I never did anything with them other than get eggs and replace a missing chicken every once in a while. Chickens aint complicated.

[@tannenbaumgirl3100]

Yes, that's true, they won't venture out a certain area from their coop, a little more if there is cover, like shrubs or man-made covers, which is why it's such a hoax how these large producers, in the name of free range, claim they are grass fed, they eat the area that they venture out to, clear in a day, and won't venture further to the rest of the green grass, and the producers won't move them, because these are fenced grids.

[@johnndavis7647]

What I did was build a coop 45" wide by 12'4" Long and 28" tall with a 45x36" hen house upstairs on one end. I bought rough cut cedar 2x4x12 at Home Depot and I ripped the 2x4s into 2x2s. I used 2x2 everywhere I could. I used 2x4x24 for the corners and attached upper and lower side rails and end pieces to the 2x4s. Cedar is light, strong and weather resistant. I covered the frame with 1/2" rabbit cage wire. I can pick up the light end with one hand and walk it over to the next bed. I built five raised beds out of concrete blocks just big enough to set the coop down inside the raised beds. I sowed deer plot seed in the next bed over and when it got 8 inches tall I walked the coop over onto it. So I planted chicken food ahead of them and people food behind therm. I am rebuilding my garden now I am turning the blocks between the beds sideways so I have more walking room. Ast first I had 24" between beds but now I have pushed the beds together separated only by concrete blocks turned sideways so I have about 16" between beds. I hope to have seven beds by the time I get through with it. I live in the burbs so I have to do it this way. I can't let them free range. I am still working so I can't be there all the time to protect them. I haven't lost a chicken to predators in seven years. Thanks for all you do.

[@LoveTractorFarm]

Trying this system this fall, waiting for the cover crop to come in, planted a little late. Love the idea of the chickens working for me not just supplying eggs. Thanks for the info.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Hope it works well for you!

[@reneebrown2968]

My chickens loved the chickweed. They tore it up.

[@ginaeaton6680]

I loved this video! We all need to learn how to keep our animals healthy, without the feed store. Great info!!

[@LazyDogFarm]

Thanks Gina!

[@JeanneKinland]

I learn more from the comments section below. Great community you have here Greg.

[@stevefromthegarden1135]

With the price of eggs going up, the chickens are becoming a big bonus for you to have. Add in the fertilizer aspect and it's a home run.

[@jasonshumake777]

If you do see your egg shells start to get thinner you can just crush the egg shells from the ones you use and feed the crushed shells to the chickens it will give them back some calcium.

[@tannenbaumgirl3100]

Make sure they get some grit too, all that grass will otherwise be hard to digest for them.

[@johnndavis7647]

I usually build at least three of everything The first one is way too heavy and each one is lighter than the last. Your system looks fine as long as you can be there to protect them from predators. Rhode island reds would dig out from under that thing.

[@markware4933]

When I recall your first videos from right after the Hoss era and even before Lazy Dog Farm got its copyright, and compare how you gardened then (old school, yet productive) with your current organic, minimal till, dual purpose cover crop/ chicken tractor style, it makes me wonder what LDF is going to look like in another year. Two years. Five years. Certainly, I foresee fungal rich soil inoculants from your bioreactors and the worm beds. Greater infrastructure toward shade cloth and frost protection. Perhaps even some efforts in okree crossbreeding. Looking forward to this evolution.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Yeah the worm farm is definitely going to be a very interesting component to add to the mix soon. Can't wait to see how that goes.

[@that9blife465]

By far most effective backyard fertility system ! You need to keep your eyes open for scrap aluminum to beef up the coop

[@wwsuwannee7993]

I have been thinking alot about a long skinny chicken tractor with 1 or 2 birds in it. Mainly for use between corn rows and the like as I definitely have enough weeds to feed them :)

[@LazyDogFarm]

Good idea!

[@cecildison6788]

Chickens love chickweed

[@OurOkieHomestead]

You're 1 of the best growers as far as I'm concerned! Hope your family is doing well!

[@LazyDogFarm]

I appreciate that

[@joshuab738]

I don't know much about chickens, but I have raised a lot of ducks. I know a full-grown duck will eat snails whole with the shell which is calcium. Wish I could get some ducks where I am at. They are great around the garden.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Yeah I like ducks, but don't necessarily care for their lack of discretion as to what they eat. Seems like they might take down some newly planted greens transplants pretty quickly.

[@briankubik4252]

I like it have to check up other clover if they around the same. We been running out meat chickens over our garden but not on just greens we feed them along with new grass but never to return to the same area. The meat chickens sure do make alot of manure is why we use them over the garden fast way to get the fertilizer. Our land is still fairly new virgin ground so needs alot of organics and manure. To build that soil not big on composting if I do it will be the lazy cold way let it set over a couple years with out a subcompact farm tractor that looks like alot of work. I work between 50 to 60 hrs at work a week wife takes care of our say homestead she's busy enough it's time for a tractor..

[@thebhn]

This is awesome! We're working on something very similar, planting some really nice cover crops. They're tractoring over the stuff we have there now but will be much happier with stuff planted especially for them! We also have our quail in tractors, and plan on doing rabbits, too. They will all be able to go over the same cover crop pasture. :) And if it grows a bit long, you can just chop some off for them, and even let some go to seed, which they'll love, too! We're a North Georgia neighbor. :D

[@LazyDogFarm]

Sounds like a great plan!

[@justacountrygirl8750]

If I had the space I’d definitely do this! My crops are always better when I use composted coop litter. It’s comprised of either pine shavings or straw. I’ve currently got 10 layers and 12 pullets that are at just about laying age but I don’t expect anything before the days start lengthening again. 6 of those pullets are American Bresse that I hatched out with 9 cockerels. Of course six of those are going to be retiring to the deep freezer in about another week or so. I’m keeping 3. I’ll keep one in with the six pullets for sustainability. The other two will go in with the other six pullets (3 Dominic’s and 3 New Hampshire Reds) and my 10 layers (Orpington, Black Australorps, Rhode Island Red) I have two separate coops and yards made with 16 ft cattle panels to form hoops covered in hardware fabric and shade cloth.

[@LazyDogFarm]

I'm hoping to get another chicken tractor next year and start doing some meat birds. Very excited to give it a go!

[@justacountrygirl8750]

@@LazyDogFarm I did the Cornish cross this past spring and decided it is too hot here in Texas. It was all I could do to keep them from heat exhaustion. That’s when I decided to give the American Bresse a try off of the recommendation of Living Traditions Homestead. So far so good. Plus they reproduce and give eggs.

[@mutantryeff]

Your chickens might eat better than I do. Can you build a Mutant-tractor to drag me around the property?

[@gidget8717]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@gregoryb7485]

You probably get the benefits of the chickens eating all the bugs and worms and larvae, and they get meat.

[@bigal8725]

That usually works well rotating cows and chickens together where chickens will scratch the patties for bugs.

[@cliftonmcandrew4786]

I don't have no chickens I'm growing mustard to get rid of them bad nematodes hopefully that help my dirt too those nematodes weren't my tomatoes last year

[@LazyDogFarm]

That will definitely help. Rotation will help too.

[@ladyryan902]

Brilliant...i can't pull the tractor but I move the fencing out through the yards same concept 😄

[@brycekirby1567]

The brassicas should have plentiful calcium

[@susannichols6830]

Thank you! You’ve answered all of my questions about your tractor . Happy late Thanksgiving!

[@LazyDogFarm]

Happy Thanksgiving Susan!

[@terrillmorgan6034]

Where did you purchase that lift for the tractor and what do you call it, thanks, great video.

[@LazyDogFarm]

It's called a Chick Lift. Here's a link: www.chicklifts.com/?ref=lazydogfarm

[@trishapomeroy9251]

Where did you get that wheel to help move the chicken tractor? That looks like it would make moving our chicken tractor much easier! We built ours too heavy also. Probably need to just scrap it and build a different design.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Right here: www.chicklifts.com/?ref=lazydogfarm

[@clinthutcheson2640]

I plan on using this method in the spring

[@heidiw8406]

I am in Florida, do you keep the chickens in the tractor all summer long? Our 10 chickens free range and go through a fifty pound bag of feed about every six weeks.

[@LazyDogFarm]

They stay in the chicken tractor year round. We plant warm season cover crops for them in the summer months.

[@jinga2535]

You should still be supplementing calcium. You won’t notice a deficiency in the egg shells because the hens’ bodies will be pulling calcium from their bones to create the shells. Some oyster shell in a cup attached to the frame is cheap insurance for the health of your hens.

[@cinderoftheland1496]

Don’t some people oven dry the egg shells, crush them and feed the eggs shells back to the birds to provide calcium?

[@wwsuwannee7993]

Yes, that is an age old method. You just need to ensure that the shells are pulverized enough to not at all resemble anything close to an egg shell, lest it give them any bright ideas about pecking at their own eggs.

[@ginaeaton6680]

I've been doing that for years.

[@michaelripperger5674]

I do that ! Easy peasy. The other shells go into the garden

[@rickthelian2215]

I asked about the calcium in egg production long time ago. An alternative would be adding calcium carbonate to the soil before seeding the cover crop.

[@hardstylzz5024]

You can add oyster shells or feed them back there egg shells.

[@rickthelian2215]

@@hardstylzz5024 I’ve heard that with oyster shells but a little hard to grind own I could imagine.😉

[@terryduprie6313]

Great video Travis. Love the chicken tractor / garden concept but concerned about predators digging under and getting to my chicks. How do you prevent that from happening, as we have coyotes, skunks, and racoons?

[@LazyDogFarm]

We have dogs and cats that keep any of those critters from coming on our property.

[@marysurbanchickengarden]

Do you provide grit and oyster shell free choice? I have a tractor and I'd love to put several of my chickens on the spots around my raised beds and I will probably do that before time for the spring planting. Not just for the weeds but for the over wintering bugs in the soil.

[@LazyDogFarm]

I don't give any grit or oyster shells. Haven't found a need to do so. There's plenty of soil there for them to access when they scratch around a little.

[@SunshineBaubles]

Is there ever an issue with bad rain storms and the chickens getting wet up in the little loft.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Only during tropical storm type rains, which doesn't happen that often. With most rain events, it stays dry as a bone under there. Only when we get really high winds and lots of rain does it get wet everywhere.

[@SunshineBaubles]

@@LazyDogFarm I understand that. I live outside of Mobile, Al.

[@larrycochrane1407]

Looking around the internet I saw a rabbit tractor. Don't remember where it was.

[@victorybeginsinthegarden]

Look up sow the land

[@LazyDogFarm]

They garden in raised beds. They don't plant cover crops and use chicken tractors in their garden.

[@rickygee8412]

💪🏽

[@beeleener6926]

Problem with chain length would be snakes and rats

[@LazyDogFarm]

It certainly could be, although a snake or rat could easily get underneath ours. Thankfully, our cats keep a close watch around here.

[@FloraM44]

I'm curious if you give them anything to dust bathe in? I've recently had a hen get what looks to be mites, or maybe just is molting, but a lot of the treatments are just making sure they have dirt or dust to bathe in.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Once they make a bare spot in the soil, they have available "dust." But I don't make any special accommodations as far as dust baths go.

[@topotexas469]

Im sure this is a dumb question but is there not a problem with cover crops pulling more nutrients from the soil than they replace? I realize the chickens are adding back to soil also however when 100 percent of their intake is being extracted they cant be replacing more than 100 percent just as the plants cant. Maybe im confused on how this works.

[@LazyDogFarm]

The cover crops will definitely consume some nutrients in the soil, but they give more than they take. Especially when you consider all the other benefits like pest management, weed management, erosion control, and contributing to better soil biology.

[@KrazyKajun602]

In your research, is there any cover crop seed variety that may be dangerous for chickens to eat?

[@LazyDogFarm]

Not that I've found. Now there are some things that other animals can't eat, but haven't found anything that I would plant that could be toxic to chickens.

[@hillbillyfarms3714]

But chicken's love chickweed, at least mind do

[@maconbacon8215]

I you feed hot peppers or garlic to your chickens, does that change the taste of their eggs?

[@FloraM44]

I've read that garlic and alliums can for sure. Not sure about peppers though

[@LazyDogFarm]

Not sure about that, but hot peppers and garlic are a delicious addition to the eggs once in a pan!

[@WhatWeDoChannel]

I was just wondering if anyone uses a similar system for meat chickens?

[@LazyDogFarm]

I've seen folks on KZbin that do a similar system with pastured chickens, but not in a garden with cover crops like we do. I think it would work very well if you had larger plots and a larger chicken tractor.

[@Mrbfgray]

Surely chickens love *chickweed,* NO? 😉

[@LazyDogFarm]

They do!

[@eroggero]

Looks like you have it dialed in pretty well, all you need to do is hook up a remote control to the chicken tractor L O L. Can the chickens grays on the Kodiak mustard? Also how soon can you plant after chickens have been on the plot, just wondering if chicken manure is to green ?

[@LazyDogFarm]

A remote control chicken tractor would be amazing! They'll definitely eat the mustard. I planted corn just a couple weeks after they'd been on a plot this spring, and no issues. Definitely no issues with transplanting. I do use the wheel hoe to incorporate it a little, which I think helps.

[@gardenofglory8275]

Doesn't layers have to eat layer feed to lay there eggs??

[@wwsuwannee7993]

No, as long as they are getting the right nutrition, there is no need for commercial feed. After all...they survived for thousands of years before it was available and they are still around, which means they were also laying eggs right? :)