So, I had a handyman out yesterday to try to make my second chicken house liveable (that contractors never finished a year ago) so I can move three of my cockerels to there. He's coming back Wednesday but there's no roof or windows on the house right now. The problem is Perky. Perky has always been nutty. The day she was born (April 2018), the first born, she ran around the incubator knocking everybody over. She clucks and screams a lot even when she's completely alone. She hatched six babies in April (4 boys!), and after they were five weeks old, she turned on them, and they were all scared of her but not anymore. The problem is that it's not just mating interest from the boys. Since Perky is nuts and runs and screams, they run after her like prey and tear at her skin, biting hard. Today, I realized that she has some bad wounds. So, she has to be away from all chickens to heal. I treated her wounds. I tried to bring her in to a large rabbit cage that I had but she wouldn't stop running in circles and screaming. She wanted to go back outside and be with her tormentors. She's in the small run now, all alone but has to be out of there on Wed when the handyman returns.
What is the best cage that I can either keep her in inside without her screaming all the time or a cage that I can put within the main chicken run? I need something inexpensive (when I tell you that I've spent about $25,000 on the chickens in the last two years, it's no lie, and I'm not rich) and fast to put up and not heavy. I need it yesterday (ok, months ago).
I am worried with her away from the flock that the other hens who, so far, have no major injuries, are going to get it next. There are a lot of "if only's." If only I could have attracted a mate of my own, and I'd have him out doing this for me. If only I had made the house and run split in half so I could put boys in one side and girls in the other side. If only I were rich and could pay for lots of huge cages. If only I had time off of work. If only I never let Perky sit on eggs. I know, I screwed up royally. But, I can't go back. I can only go forward. Nobody will adopt my boys alive (and except for this behavior and the gang rapes, they are good boys) so it's up to me to find a way to keep Perky and the others safe. Perky has never been calm in her entire life! I have a very hard time catching her as well to medicate or move. She doesn't realize that her flighty behavior is what's getting her chased and hurt. I have four other hens. One is completely laid back, hangs with the older rooster, and doesn't run so she's mostly left alone. One is brooding nothing (for weeks now) and in great shape. I've seen her still chase the cockerels who are now three times her size. The two young hens stay on roost almost all the time. I mounted food and water bowls on the roosts last week so that helps.
I've seen adult hens and roosters treat their chicks with such love but adults to adults, it can be vicious.
I sure hope the handyman can make the smaller house liveable on Wed so I can put three roosters in there. Why not five? Because, I designed it to be a small area for quarantine, not for permanent housing.
I know I'm horrible. I'm sure most of you will simply attack me and tell me again to murder all the roosters who have a right to live. Instead of bashing me, help me figure out how to house Perky. She's tiny, fast, and nutty. She needs to heal. If she's in a cage within the main cage, I think that would help for eventual reintroduction. Do they sell something like that?
What is the best cage that I can either keep her in inside without her screaming all the time or a cage that I can put within the main chicken run? I need something inexpensive (when I tell you that I've spent about $25,000 on the chickens in the last two years, it's no lie, and I'm not rich) and fast to put up and not heavy. I need it yesterday (ok, months ago).
I am worried with her away from the flock that the other hens who, so far, have no major injuries, are going to get it next. There are a lot of "if only's." If only I could have attracted a mate of my own, and I'd have him out doing this for me. If only I had made the house and run split in half so I could put boys in one side and girls in the other side. If only I were rich and could pay for lots of huge cages. If only I had time off of work. If only I never let Perky sit on eggs. I know, I screwed up royally. But, I can't go back. I can only go forward. Nobody will adopt my boys alive (and except for this behavior and the gang rapes, they are good boys) so it's up to me to find a way to keep Perky and the others safe. Perky has never been calm in her entire life! I have a very hard time catching her as well to medicate or move. She doesn't realize that her flighty behavior is what's getting her chased and hurt. I have four other hens. One is completely laid back, hangs with the older rooster, and doesn't run so she's mostly left alone. One is brooding nothing (for weeks now) and in great shape. I've seen her still chase the cockerels who are now three times her size. The two young hens stay on roost almost all the time. I mounted food and water bowls on the roosts last week so that helps.
I've seen adult hens and roosters treat their chicks with such love but adults to adults, it can be vicious.
I sure hope the handyman can make the smaller house liveable on Wed so I can put three roosters in there. Why not five? Because, I designed it to be a small area for quarantine, not for permanent housing.
I know I'm horrible. I'm sure most of you will simply attack me and tell me again to murder all the roosters who have a right to live. Instead of bashing me, help me figure out how to house Perky. She's tiny, fast, and nutty. She needs to heal. If she's in a cage within the main cage, I think that would help for eventual reintroduction. Do they sell something like that?
