Apartment Coop

Date sort Score sort
jmdix22

jmdix22

In the Brooder
7 Years
Jan 19, 2013
26
0
35
Virginia
Hello, I have not yet got my chickens yet...I plan on having 2. and raising them from chicks. i have one issue. I'm gonna be living in an apartment. there is nothing saying that i cannot have chickens. The city I'm in allows it. so, i really don't care if the apartment allows it because i plan on not letting them know that i have them. I plan on keeping them on the balcony and making it so no one can see them. I am going to be on the top floor so it will be easy. i plan on having bantam orpingtons because i hear that they are not as loud as others. my biggest problem is noise!! any ideas on how to keep them quiet or reduce noise. i can make a ventilation system to bring air in and out if i need to. but i need it to be quiet. and to keep the smell down as much as possible! thanks for the help!!
D.gif
 
My Japanese bantam hen is very quiet. She lays reliably, as well. As far as noise, it just depends if you have hens that like to announce their eggs. My hens do not "sing" the egg song that is typical for many. They are very quiet on the nest. -only time they raise a fuss is if they're startled or upset (which is rare). To eliminate odor, scoop daily. Also, I would recommend potting some fragrant herbs on your balcony. We have containers of mint, oregano, and basil near the chickens. They leave it alone, and it smells fabulous!
 
How big is your balcony? Most apartment balconies I have seen do not have sufficient room for 2 chickens. If you have an unusually large balcony, that's a different story.

I am not trying to be critical; I have just noticed that whenever my chickens are pit in a place too small, they get stressed and are louder. This can also make cleaning their coop a hassle if there is not enough room to move around. I also believe chickens need access to sunshine and grass, even if its a small area.

Feel free to disregard what I have said. Just my opinion, after reading your plan.
 
Thanks! and yes the balcony is strangely large! i can not get grass obviously...but would you recommend that i put some plants for them to forage through? i plan on using worms to help the soil in the pots so they would have some food as well as the occasional meal worm treat? i appreciate the constructive criticism!!
thumbsup.gif
 
My chickens have about 1/2 an acre of land they free range on and they still tend to go for the flower pots! So I would say, definitely add some plants, or even some pots with just soil and worms for them to forage through.

What are you planning to use as bedding? And will the chickens be roosting and spending their days in the same area? I can anticipate you having to clean out, at the very least, once a day. Chickens poop a lot at night, and during the day they are natural foragers. If they are foraging where they pooped, they can quickly get coccidiosis.
 
Great to know! I could put the plants outside of the run and maybe only put them in during certain times of the day? Would that work?
 
It sounds like a crazy idea to me.
Are they going to be cooped 24/7?
If not what will stop them launching themselves off the balcony?

Any plants you buy to scratch in will not last very long imho.
You would be better off with a scratch tray and simply lob kitchen waste in it.

All mine holler like hell when they are laying eggs or when the see me as to them a huge approaching human thing = food and treats :)

Do not delude yourself that you can keep them hidden, people find these things out and if the neighbour are nosy or jobsworth types they could make life awkward for you

You best be sensible and sound your neighbours out first to save yourself al load of grief later.
If they are keen you may well benefit from extra scraps and the ability to build a far more suitable coop.
 

Similar threads

Rosekitten
    • Like
Coop designs (plan 6 to 8 chickens, lace cochin)
Replies
2
Views
659
rosemarythyme
rosemarythyme
C
Building a coop with restraints
Replies
5
Views
282
AinaWGSD
AinaWGSD
A
    • Like
Construction near coop
2
Replies
10
Views
444
BigBlueHen53
BigBlueHen53
F
    • Like
Does this coop need a floor?
2 3
Replies
26
Views
2K
Krugerrand
K
Poppy Putentake
    • Like
Food and Water Inside Coop?
Replies
7
Views
1K
Debbie292d
Debbie292d

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom