Connecticut!

[BirdsinBethel]

Quote:
I LOVE the photo of the little baby looking directly into the camera!! SO cute!! Say hi to DaddyJimmyTheChicken for me.

I agree-that's the cutest photo! Good luck with new Little Blue!

 

[The Tinman]

Don`t you think 2x3 would be a little cramped for 3 chickens. A general rule of thunb is 4 square feet per bird for the coop and 10 square feet per bird for the run.I know bantams are smaller but you want them to be comfortable

Luke13:34 :

Ok. Just had this guy deliver a big, homemade- but solidly built- rabbit hutch. I'm going to disinfect it and do some retrofitting of it to be a bantam coop. Can't decide if I want to put it inside the run or just wrap the bottom with hardware cloth and have it next to the run as a completely seperate area. The sleeping area is 2x3 and the run area would be 4x3 for (eventually) two (three?) bantams.

If I put it inside the run then the banties will need to get along with the big girls but would have a place to get away from them. My worry about having it outside the run is the banties won't have the option of snuggling up with the big girls when it gets cold.

Everyone gets the opportunity to "free range" (either together or staggered) in the yard a couple times a day.​

 

[The Tinman]

New Chic, You can soak the foot in epsom salt and put neosporin in the wound. Next time if you catch it early you can soak the foot in Tria-cide for fish. This may save you the trouble of doing surgury. Do you have places for your girls to perch in the run? I put chairs in mine so when it is muddy they have a dry place to sit.

 

[Luke13:34]

I thought the rule of thumb was 4 sq ft for LF and 2 sq ft for bantams (although more is always better)? You are right.. if I leave the sleeping area 2x3, then I should only put two banties in there. I could expand the sleeping area out a bit .. it would then have an inside ramp down to the lower part which will be their secured run (and don't tell DH, but I'm already planning on expanding that out a bit, too).

OR-

If I put the whole box inside my existing run, I could make the whole 4x3 upper area a sleeping/nesting area and put a ramp down off the side of the box leading directly to be intermingling with the big girls. The big girls wouldn't really loose space because they would be able to go underneath the box (and I'm sure would be happy to sit on top of it). But the banties would be able to run up the ramp and into their own area if they get picked on.

Looks like I've got a busy weekend of Hmmming and Hawwwwing ahead of me.

All input is appreciated.

 

[new chick 203]

Quote:
Thanks. I did the warm epsom soak, and she really liked that part of the spa treatment. And we did use the neosporin too. The vet sent us home with Silver Sulfadiazine to use instead, he said it was better if you have it. We really thought we cought it early, but it's just still so swollen on the top of her foot. We barely slept last night, and DH is saying things like "I didn't know raising chickens was going to be so hard, if Honoria gets worse I'm done."

 

[Beth G.]

Luke13:34 :

I thought the rule of thumb was 4 sq ft for LF and 2 sq ft for bantams (although more is always better)? You are right.. if I leave the sleeping area 2x3, then I should only put two banties in there. I could expand the sleeping area out a bit .. it would then have an inside ramp down to the lower part which will be their secured run (and don't tell DH, but I'm already planning on expanding that out a bit, too).

OR-

If I put the whole box inside my existing run, I could make the whole 4x3 upper area a sleeping/nesting area and put a ramp down off the side of the box leading directly to be intermingling with the big girls. The big girls wouldn't really loose space because they would be able to go underneath the box (and I'm sure would be happy to sit on top of it). But the banties would be able to run up the ramp and into their own area if they get picked on.

Looks like I've got a busy weekend of Hmmming and Hawwwwing ahead of me.

All input is appreciated.

Hi Tina,

I think for the banties the area is plenty. The reason I say this is you let them free range in that big huge yard of yours daily

Besides, the smaller the area for them to cuddle and keep warm the better in the winter. Most of my banties do not roost and huddle on the floor. Also, I gave them a big area to free range in for 5 banties and everyday they went in the same corner to scratch and sun. It's weird I don't think they even used the other half lol.

Betty, was one of them that really only stayed in one corner so, if you get more like her no worries!

Good Luck with the new coop!!!

Beth

p.s. Tinman not everyone has huge monster JG's and they do require a big area I agree but, banties are very different depending on the breed

 

[jimmythechicken]

ay one have a couple of buff orp hatching eggs i can buy just looking for 3or4.

 

[little blue]

heres some pics of my turkey brooder me an my dad built today took about 4-5 hrs.they love it.pen area is 6ft x3ft an 4ft high box part is 3ft x 2ft an 2ft high.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:

 

[The Tinman]

If you put the whole box in the existing run. You might have to get a doorman and a velvet rope to keep the big girls out.

Luke13:34 :

I thought the rule of thumb was 4 sq ft for LF and 2 sq ft for bantams (although more is always better)? You are right.. if I leave the sleeping area 2x3, then I should only put two banties in there. I could expand the sleeping area out a bit .. it would then have an inside ramp down to the lower part which will be their secured run (and don't tell DH, but I'm already planning on expanding that out a bit, too).

OR-

If I put the whole box inside my existing run, I could make the whole 4x3 upper area a sleeping/nesting area and put a ramp down off the side of the box leading directly to be intermingling with the big girls. The big girls wouldn't really loose space because they would be able to go underneath the box (and I'm sure would be happy to sit on top of it). But the banties would be able to run up the ramp and into their own area if they get picked on.

Looks like I've got a busy weekend of Hmmming and Hawwwwing ahead of me.

All input is appreciated.​