I also started with a chicken tractor Steve - what's your main thoughts for going with one? We should maybe start a chicken tractor thread?
Well I have a vision/idea that I must have got from somewhere to run fruit trees and vines (grapes, passionfruit etc) along in rows pruned/trained in 'Espalier' style.
At the property we have just bought I have an area where I think i should be able to get maybe 3 rows of this style set up. Then the idea is to run the chook tractor up and down between the rows which will not only keep the chooks happy with new ground to explore and cultivate on a regular basis, but also provide fertilisation for the trees once the rains come and wash the manure down to the tree roots. Any maybe reduce my mowing????
Here's an example of Espalier style with apples being grown. I think they look awesome. And i see commercial growers use this style too as its easier to pick and maintain and the crop is still substantial.
I dont know if the idea will work or what problems I might encounter but its stuck in my head and is being churned over and over.
Yep, that's the old steel army trunk alright! My latch ended up breaking in the late 80's and my grandfather WWII vet with plenty of experience in steel trunks riveted a stainless hasp and staple on it which was the envy of my troop cause those old latches were flimsy! Great memories!
Yes i agree those old latches were useless. In fact i still have the original style latches but I think they are the 3rd or 4th ones i put on it. They were so easy to snap off and bend. I don't even use them anymore as they are more trouble then their worth. I'll go the hasp and staple too if I ever have the need to secure it again. I still have all the unit markings (the unit christmas tree I think they called it) with all the different colours. I think my trunk has about 5 layers of paint on it as every trip I did they wanted a fresh coat of paint with new unit markings. Yeah memories....