Just love this board!!! Well, silly me, when I decided I wanted chickens I chose Brahmas because I saw so many beautiful images on line. What I did not do is read up on the breed as thoroughly as I should have, not realizing until my girls were starting to grow that they are considered the "Gentle Giants" of the Heritage breeds.
That said, they are ten weeks old and already gigantuous (IMHO). So, they will be moved out of their little tiny "baby coop" as I call it and into a 6 x 8 playhouse I bought off Craigslist. I have three hens, at least that is what I asked for, we shall see if any of them start crowing at some point! Anyway, my wonderful son-in-law is a carpenter and he will be renovating the playhouse into a chicken coop. I have purchased two extra large nesting boxes and will be using 2 x 4's as the roosts because they are such big girls. I also purchased a Pullet Shut Automatic Door.
I do have a few questions:
1. How far off the ground should the roost be? I heard 2-3 feet tops for Brahmas because they are such big birds they can't fly very high.
2. Do any of you have the Pullet Shut and what do you think of it?
3. The windows are pane glass with screens. Should I also put hardware wire over the windows and which is better - on the inside or the outside of the window?
4. I also need to put some vents in - where should they be located and how many would I need.
The playhouse looks like a little people house with vinyl siding and asphalt roof.
I also have a 10 x 10, 6' high fully enclosed dog run as their pen with 3 feet of hardware wire up the sides and over the top and it is on concrete with a shade tarp over the pen.
Any input you can give will be MOST APPRECIATED.
Thanks
That said, they are ten weeks old and already gigantuous (IMHO). So, they will be moved out of their little tiny "baby coop" as I call it and into a 6 x 8 playhouse I bought off Craigslist. I have three hens, at least that is what I asked for, we shall see if any of them start crowing at some point! Anyway, my wonderful son-in-law is a carpenter and he will be renovating the playhouse into a chicken coop. I have purchased two extra large nesting boxes and will be using 2 x 4's as the roosts because they are such big girls. I also purchased a Pullet Shut Automatic Door.
I do have a few questions:
1. How far off the ground should the roost be? I heard 2-3 feet tops for Brahmas because they are such big birds they can't fly very high.
2. Do any of you have the Pullet Shut and what do you think of it?
3. The windows are pane glass with screens. Should I also put hardware wire over the windows and which is better - on the inside or the outside of the window?
4. I also need to put some vents in - where should they be located and how many would I need.
The playhouse looks like a little people house with vinyl siding and asphalt roof.
I also have a 10 x 10, 6' high fully enclosed dog run as their pen with 3 feet of hardware wire up the sides and over the top and it is on concrete with a shade tarp over the pen.
Any input you can give will be MOST APPRECIATED.
Thanks
