House hens housing?

[prophecy]

After all is said and done,i have considered keeping my 6 hens inside, putting them in cages(roomy parrot breeder cages) at night to roost,putting them outside on nice days in a covered doggy Xpen while we're outside this summer,getting chicken diapers and letting them run about in my empty spare room on the not-so -nice days.
my question is, is that a safe way to house chickens? where can i get poop collecting garments for my hens?(they make them for parrots and are called flight suits.) if not available commercially can i make them,and out ot what?

Anyone else have house hens?

 

[Mahonri]

Keeping them in the house? That' sounds like a lot of work.

Build em a coop... that way everybody's happy.

 

[danischi24]

The chicken equivalent of a flight suit is called a chicken diaper. You can get great chicken diapers from www.chickendiapers.com
I fully support them as my girl is very comfortable in their diapers.

 

[prophecy]

Quote:
indoor sounds a tad better to me,but i would love to coop 'em.reason indoors being better, my neighbor dogs........

i have a neighbor who has 2 fence fighting dogs.they are a female 100lb+ rottweiler and a large male pit bull mix,who are VERY agressive at our fence.She finds this 'amusing'.I am afraid of them stressing my chickens or worse getting over the fence and killing them.The rottie has 'almost made it over my 6ft privacy fence 2 times.It got so jazzed up it wanting to get at us it had itself 3/4 of the way over,growling, barking and snapping,with its back up and teeth bared.I knocked the dog with a plastic snow shovel back over into their yard.We did nothing to provoke the dogs,we were sitting in our chairs outside,talking.Its constant fence slamming/growling.As soon as they leave them out they B-line and slam the fence.(we arent even out there,some of the time they do it),i've talked with them,reported them, its goes well for a week or 2,then we go back to square 1. it will never end.

 

[Tala]

If it's YOUR fence I suggest an electric wire strung across the top. Sounds like the dog is climbing on it, not jumping clear, so good chance he'll get shocked back into his own yard.
I'm a firm believer in good fences, the higher voltage the better

 

[KattyKillFish]

i don't know about keeping ALL your chickens inside, i would recommend like 2 or 3 favorite if not 1. in my experience chickens love being outside. it's a neat idea though! would be great in the winter! sounds like you'll have a plan that will work for you even thought it is a bit off the beaten path. but isn't that what life's about?

here is a bit of into on how to make a chicken diaper. i've heard this one works pretty well. (its a video)

and ehre are some helpful threads

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=157562&p=1
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=1597199
(this one is from 2007, don't know if she's still doing them) https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=18446


also, you may want to look into leash training chickens! i've started training my 3 week old silver phoenix roo and he seems to be getting used to it. i made his harnesses myself! i have a small for now, medium for later on and an adjustable one for when hes an adult. here is a link with a bit of info on that.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=152501
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=57592
http://www.americansilkiebantamclub.org/harness_leash.htm

 

[prophecy]

Quote:
not allowed to have electric fences where i live.unfortunatly. i have been thru this for 3 years,called everyone everywhere for legal suggestion, my code wont allow it.they suggested mace and a taser for ''self defence''. *sigh*

 

[prophecy]

Quote:
thanks,will check into that!
Oh, and Path? what path? and who beat it? lmao

 

[b.hromada]

Quote:
Prophecy, I have been keeping my girls inside, due to a cranky neighbor next door. Even my ACO recommended it until I can get some kind of variance. It is a lot of work, I will say that, but in the afternoon, I let them out on the opposite side of our backyard, away from the grouch, so that they can get some good ol' outside time! Its working so far. Good luck. Sounds as though you have your mind made up, and in that case, you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[lovemychix]

Sounds like you got it figured out. Chickens are great companions. I'm sending you a PM.