House Chicken

[Madie'sOddFlock]

Ella hatched with a rotated tibia. I know she wouldn't survive the winter up here, she wouldn't survive my other chickens, and she wouldn't sell well. So I had two options, send her to butcher or keep a house chicken.
Now I have a house chicken. I also have a pet rat so they're housed next to each other. I have Ella in a dog kennel and the two cages are on a big tarp(I think its 8x10). I've run into two problems: Ella flings dust(dried and ground up poo) all over the place because she flies instead of walking. And she knocks over the water too often. I guess there's a third problem which is that I need a better solution for bedding(I use sheets of cardboard). Any setups you've used or seen that worked or any ideas(two minds are better than one).
Thanks,
Madie

 

[Giulia]

I have a house hen (in my van in which I live and travel ) that I adore. I'm with her ALL the time so she free ranges every day unleds we're traveling. She has a big green Rubbermaid bin that she sleeps in at night. I clean it every day and keep deep, fresh hay in it for her. The food and water bowls are attached to the side so she can't knock then over. She gets scraps and fresh salad I take her for a dust bath every day, no matter where we are Right now we are in the desert at Saddleback Butte State Park near Lancaster so it's ideal. I have an enclosure that wraps around the campsite so she is safe when we're not walking around ..although my dog and I keep watch over her always I'm sure you can figure it out so she is more comfy

Ella hatched with a rotated tibia. I know she wouldn't survive the winter up here, she wouldn't survive my other chickens, and she wouldn't sell well. So I had two options, send her to butcher or keep a house chicken.
Now I have a house chicken. I also have a pet rat so they're housed next to each other. I have Ella in a dog kennel and the two cages are on a big tarp(I think its 8x10). I've run into two problems: Ella flings dust(dried and ground up poo) all over the place because she flies instead of walking. And she knocks over the water too often. I guess there's a third problem which is that I need a better solution for bedding(I use sheets of cardboard). Any setups you've used or seen that worked or any ideas(two minds are better than one).
Thanks,
Madie

 

[Acre4Me]

Ella hatched with a rotated tibia. I know she wouldn't survive the winter up here, she wouldn't survive my other chickens, and she wouldn't sell well. So I had two options, send her to butcher or keep a house chicken.
Now I have a house chicken. I also have a pet rat so they're housed next to each other. I have Ella in a dog kennel and the two cages are on a big tarp(I think its 8x10). I've run into two problems: Ella flings dust(dried and ground up poo) all over the place because she flies instead of walking. And she knocks over the water too often. I guess there's a third problem which is that I need a better solution for bedding(I use sheets of cardboard). Any setups you've used or seen that worked or any ideas(two minds are better than one).
Thanks,
Madie

How old is she and what breed of chicken?

How tall is the dog kennel? Maybe it’s so tall she can fly, and you might need to shorten it to discourage her. We put in a loft in a large wire dog cage for a cat, but something that goes the entire cage length might shorten it just enough to discourage the flapping.

You need to attach water in some manner that it can’t be tipped. Even zip ties to secure it to the side might work.

Good luck.

 

[Madie'sOddFlock]

How old is she and what breed of chicken?

How tall is the dog kennel? Maybe it’s so tall she can fly, and you might need to shorten it to discourage her. We put in a loft in a large wire dog cage for a cat, but something that goes the entire cage length might shorten it just enough to discourage the flapping.

You need to attach water in some manner that it can’t be tipped. Even zip ties to secure it to the side might work.

Good luck.

Thanks. She's almost 17 weeks and is of unknown breed, all I know is that she is bearded(but none of her possible parents were...).

 

[Mrs. K]

I think the water nipples either vertical of horizontal, would help with the water.

 

[Madie'sOddFlock]

I think the water nipples either vertical of horizontal, would help with the water.

I'll have to find my baggie of extra nipples now. I haven't used them since this summer.