ALmost done Elvis and his girls home.

[Joeys Chickens]

This is an old hutch that was going to be thrown out. Then my daughter suggested to reuse it as a nesting place for the girls. It's not finish as it will need a way for the girls to get up to the higher boxes.


Thought old milk crates would be great as nest boxes


Decided to use old branches as roost. Should I put a ladder for them to get to the higher one?

I have a few more things to do but I am happy with the outcome so far. If you have any suggestions to improve their home please share.

 

[drumstick diva]

Do your girls fly much? I don't think it looks so high to fly to. They can land on the front and then go inside.

 

[Joeys Chickens]

They do fly or are starting too. They are only 8-10 weeks old.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Just gotta say, that is so awesome!!! Great job on reusing something and making them a great home!

They're still young, so you can always change or tweak things later as you see what they do and don't like... oh, and if you put a ladder in there they'll just roost on it instead, lol... love the branches!

 

[Joeys Chickens]

Thank you! I will see what they will do. They do seem to want to stay outside in a bunch though. Is that normal.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Thank you! I will see what they will do. They do seem to want to stay outside in a bunch though. Is that normal.

At that age and new home, yep... chickens just KNOW they are prey so until they figure out that they are safe they will tend to stick fairly close together... once they get a little older and more comfortable they'll start doing their own thing and spreading out more...

 

[Joeys Chickens]

I was hoping they would feel safe inside their house but they seem to only want to stay outside. That was one of the reason's I got their roost done so they could rest on them. I know they are still young and I am sure learning lots.

 

[Ravynscroft]

I was hoping they would feel safe inside their house but they seem to only want to stay outside. That was one of the reason's I got their roost done so they could rest on them. I know they are still young and I am sure learning lots.

Chicken keeping is always an ongoing learning process, lol...

Are they just not going in at night?

 

[jetdog]

I was hoping they would feel safe inside their house but they seem to only want to stay outside. That was one of the reason's I got their roost done so they could rest on them. I know they are still young and I am sure learning lots.

I would suggest you spread out the roost branches as the ones that choose to use the top one will surely be pooping on the ones that use the lower branches, needs to be more like a stair layout.