Dog carrier covered up inside?

[Eryn]

Ok I so I just got a little bantam frizzle cochin and I would like to bring her in at night because it is cold outside. I know it isn't super cold since I'm in CA but tonight it is really wet outside and I went out there to check on her and she was wet with condensation! I felt so bad I brought her in the house and put her in a box with vent holes and shavings. my cats of course are going crazy wanting to know what is in the box!

I was thinking of getting a small plastic dog carrier for her as a coop as I only have the one and she gets to free range so she just needs a dry place to sleep. I was thinking I could bring her in at night in the carrier so she would stay warm until it warms up in a couple months. So my question is would she be ok with a blanket over her to keep the little paws away? I don't want her to not have enough ventilation! Any suggestions? And would a small carrier outside be enough for her during the warmer seasons? For tonight I think I'm going to lock the cats away from her! Thanks everyone!

 

[fallenweeble]

Hi eyrn!
well, i can't speak for chickens but i do cover many of my other birds cages at night with blankets and they do just fine. many people do this with parrots in fact. perhaps someone will be along soon with advice to the contrary but it seems like it would work out okay.

 

[Eryn]

that is exactly what I was thinking, but didn't know, I did look around the forums a lot so I'm thinking that a small carrier would be enough space cause it seems a lot of others do this as well and it is bigger than a nesting box after all! hopefully everyone else agrees!

 

[jeaucamom]

Hey Eryn... we are neighbors! We are up in Auburn, so you are not far from us at all. I don't suppose you want a super sweet little frizzle cochin roo to go with your little girl do you

Either way, the pet carrier is a great idea! It is what we use as hen hospitals when one is sick or injured. We have them in our house from anywhere from one day to several weeks and they work great and are easy to clean. As long as she gets out during the day she will be fine in the carrier at night. Please be carfull of hawks and other predators during the day outside, especially if she is the only one. She will be easy prey. hopefully she is in a covered, secure area. Welcome to the forum, Suz

 

[Eryn]

Thanks for the welcome Suz! I do let her out during the day but she isn't in a covered area, I'm in town so I'm not to worried about hawks, the biggest bird I've seen at the house in the last 2 years has been crows. I have two SLW so she isn't out there alone. The neighborhood cats learned to stay out of my yard as my ducks chased them away! I had 3 pekins and they would gang up on cats so they won't even look at my fence now LOL. I would love to have a roo but I am worried about pushing the neighbors a bit to far.... Right now they don't complain at all, and I got rid of the pekins cause they were destroying my yard really bad! I went ahead and got a carrier at walmart and put her in it, it isn't really tall but I could fit like 3 or 4 chicks her size in there so I'm sure it is plenty big. Bigger than a nesting box for sure!

I just hope the blanket isn't cutting down to much ventilation, but I think she will be fine if I keep the shavings clean and keep her in there only when it is dark out.

 

[BJ]

Yes, it is okay to cover it. I drape a black cloth over my house chicken (she is a temporary house chicken) when it is bed time. She is doing fine. She has adjusted well to being covered at night/uncovered in the morning.

 

[Eryn]

Ok great thanks BJ!