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Debbie,
I have seen a chicken tractor which was built by a friend. They used it to
move their chickens around the yard and at the same time keep them enclosed
(dogs were an issue). It was fairly heavy and I don't know how much use it
got.
I let my seven chickens roam during the day. They spend part of their time
scratching around the as-yet unfenced and unplanted vegetable garden. They
make nice little depressions there where they take dust baths. Their
favorite time though is when we humans are out there digging out last year's
dandelion and chickweed remnants. After we get the soil stirred up, then
the chickens come along and gobble the worms. So, my observation is that
they are more opportunistic than industrious. When they are scratching for
insects or worms, they don't go very deep and their pattern seems pretty
haphazard to me (but what do I know about finding a meal that way?).
In the course of my weeding when I find a worm, I whistle and throw it to
Samson, the rooster. He clucks softly (meaning, "come and get it"), shakes
the worm, and drops it for the first hen that shows up. He never eats it
himself. I think he is a sensitive new-age guy.
Are you sorry you asked?
Peace,
Candy
Cass
