What do I do?

[Chickenrandomness]

I'm in need of some help here. I got chicks coming on August 27th, and i have no where to put them. My parents will not allow the chicks be in the house whatsoever, and we don't have a garage; we have an open carport. My parents want to take a large cardboard box and put them in the box in the carport. But there are so many predators around my house. My backyard is a forest, and there are countless large animal holes if you venture as far as 150ft into the woods. Plus there are owls and several kites that hang out around my house. We also have two dogs that have wiped out an entire flock before.

The original plan we had was to build a chicken coop that's secure enough for chicks. However, me and my mother haven't been able to decide on a plan. She wants a large coop in which she can store stuff and walk in, while i want a small tractor that can be moved around (we're only going to have 3 chickens.)
We don't have the money to build a large coop, but my mom doesn't want a small coop and she doesn't want to end up building two coops. At the rate we're at, we won't have time to build a coop for the chicks, so my parents decided a flimsy cardboard box is going to have to do and will work. But there is no way 3 chicks are going to survive a cardboard box in an open carport until we get a coop.

Any ideas? Because i'm out, and my parents don't listen to a word i say about predators.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

You can one of those dog cages (metal to be safe for your heat lamp) and wrap the sides with something to keep wind out, but be careful to do it with fire safety in mind.

http://www.petsmart.com/family/inde...PAD/Style+1/Wire&fbc=1&fbn=Style+1|Wire&fbx=1

I presume this will keep out raccoons BUT if they can reach in the sides to get the chicks, they will. You would have to line it with something around the sides. I really don't know if this idea will work. See the next idea I mention- it is better I think.

You would also have to be so careful to not overheat the chicks.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10828475
I use these a lot to brood chicks. Again fire safety must be first and foremost on your mind when hanging the lamp. I hang it at least two ways with metal wire, NOT including the clamp, and usually only use one or two 100 watt bulbs, not a true heat lamp bulb.

I think the Chick -n - hutch would be much better, personally. I take the tray from underneath and place it inside the hutch (you have to loosen the screws a little). Then I wrap the outside with something for wind protection or use plexiglass panels or plywood panels. I have had *7* of these, and LOVE them for chicks. You have to put the tray in to hold the shavings.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=chr-greentree_ff&va=outdoor+brooders

Here is a yahoo image search for "outdoor brooders" - maybe you can come up with a cheaper way to do something with some plywood and such.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/329238/dog-crate-brooder
Here's a thread with some advice and pics. I hope this helps.

 

[Chickenrandomness]

You can one of those dog cages (metal to be safe for your heat lamp) and wrap the sides with something to keep wind out, but be careful to do it with fire safety in mind.

http://www.petsmart.com/family/inde...PAD/Style+1/Wire&fbc=1&fbn=Style+1|Wire&fbx=1

I presume this will keep out raccoons BUT if they can reach in the sides to get the chicks, they will. You would have to line it with something around the sides. I really don't know if this idea will work. See the next idea I mention- it is better I think.

You would also have to be so careful to not overheat the chicks.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10828475
I use these a lot to brood chicks. Again fire safety must be first and foremost on your mind when hanging the lamp. I hang it at least two ways with metal wire, NOT including the clamp, and usually only use one or two 100 watt bulbs, not a true heat lamp bulb.

I think the Chick -n - hutch would be much better, personally. I take the tray from underneath and place it inside the hutch (you have to loosen the screws a little). Then I wrap the outside with something for wind protection or use plexiglass panels or plywood panels. I have had *7* of these, and LOVE them for chicks. You have to put the tray in to hold the shavings.

Thanks for the advice!
I think i may have a really good idea now. I already have a large dog cage which i once used for chicks, but somehow a dog pulled a chick right from between the thin bars once, therefore i didn't trust using it anymore, but you gave me an idea; getting some chicken wire with smaller holes and wrap that around the cage so i don't have as much of a fire hazard

As for the hutch, i'd love one of those, but money is kind of tight right now, so i really can't buy one at the moment.

But thanks! i think i know what i'm going to make now!

 

[Chickenrandomness]

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=chr-greentree_ff&va=outdoor+brooders

Here is a yahoo image search for "outdoor brooders" - maybe you can come up with a cheaper way to do something with some plywood and such.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/329238/dog-crate-brooder
Here's a thread with some advice and pics. I hope this helps.

Oh, cool
I may be able to make one of those instead, i've got some wood laying around the house that could be used

I really appreciate your help ^^

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
See my above post- I edited it and there is a good thread on BYC there. Congrats for thinking of something you have on hand that will work! Yeah once an owl pulled a chick of mine through some chain link. So you might want to wrap it heavily with the chicken wire.