White Strawberries

Chicken Tractors- Considerations, pros and cons| Mastering the Garden

Samantha Penman

🐓 In this episode, I share my lived experience with chicken tractors and the mandala garden system — the joys, the frustrations, and the lessons five years in.

We explore:
 🪴 How chickens save you work with composting, weeding, and pest control
 🛠️ Design considerations: circular vs. rectangular tractors, PVC vs. wood, mites and materials
 👩‍🌾 What it’s really like moving a dome once your Zone One (Garden Bed) fills with fruit trees and hedges
  🌬️ Why wind (and tarps!) can make or break your chicken dome setup

This is part personal story, part design reflection. From dry dust bath floors to chickens marching like a parade when the tarp comes off, it’s all here. If you’ve ever thought about building (or rethinking) your own chicken system, this episode gives you the inside scoop on what works — and what doesn’t — in real-life gardens.

📚 Recommended for: permaculture experimenters, chicken keepers, mandala garden nerds, and anyone curious about closing the loop with feathered friends.

💡 Resources & References:

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