kinkachy000
Songster
- Mar 18, 2018
- 127
- 170
- 111
Hello,
This is a rather strange, and sad (to me), question. I have 13 chickens; three of them are regular sized chickens, nine are bantams, and then I have one broiler bird, who's the problem. I was never expecting to own a broiler bird, but the supply store mixed up the chicks. And like a broiler bird does, he grew insanely fast and weighs probably ~20 pounds now. There is plenty of room inside the coop for them all to roost comfortably, so that is not the problem. The problem is that my broiler bird cannot fit through the door - he is simply too large (he is literally the same size as my 5-gallon waterer!) He is too wide to even be pushed through the door! No matter how I, or he, tries, he will not fit through the door. Further, due to his weight, it is very difficult to make it up the ramp (again, even with help). So, this means that every night, he sleeps alone at the bottom of the ramp. I feel so bad for him and I want to make something comfortable and warm to sleep in; especially when winter comes, because I live in the PNW and I don't want him sleeping in the rain and mud every night.
I cannot change the size of the coop door. It was special made, with a pulley system, track, and actual door - it would be very difficult to change all of that. Plus, he cannot even make it up the ramp himself, so even if the door was bigger, he wouldn't be able to make it up regardless. At the moment, I have a 7-gallon plastic plant pot turned on its side at the bottom of the ramp, but it is still too small for him to feel comfortable; I also don't think he likes the curve it has, so he will not sleep in it. So, whatever I house him in, it has to be big enough for him to fit and be comfortable. It will also have to be lower to the ground so he can make it in himself.
Does anyone have any ideas on what to house him in? I can build one if given some pictures or ideas, or I can buy something! Please help and just point me in a good direction. I feel terrible seeing him sleep alone; he is the sweetest, softest rooster who loves his girls, but can't even roost with them.
Here's some pictures of him (doesn't show his true size though)
This is a rather strange, and sad (to me), question. I have 13 chickens; three of them are regular sized chickens, nine are bantams, and then I have one broiler bird, who's the problem. I was never expecting to own a broiler bird, but the supply store mixed up the chicks. And like a broiler bird does, he grew insanely fast and weighs probably ~20 pounds now. There is plenty of room inside the coop for them all to roost comfortably, so that is not the problem. The problem is that my broiler bird cannot fit through the door - he is simply too large (he is literally the same size as my 5-gallon waterer!) He is too wide to even be pushed through the door! No matter how I, or he, tries, he will not fit through the door. Further, due to his weight, it is very difficult to make it up the ramp (again, even with help). So, this means that every night, he sleeps alone at the bottom of the ramp. I feel so bad for him and I want to make something comfortable and warm to sleep in; especially when winter comes, because I live in the PNW and I don't want him sleeping in the rain and mud every night.
I cannot change the size of the coop door. It was special made, with a pulley system, track, and actual door - it would be very difficult to change all of that. Plus, he cannot even make it up the ramp himself, so even if the door was bigger, he wouldn't be able to make it up regardless. At the moment, I have a 7-gallon plastic plant pot turned on its side at the bottom of the ramp, but it is still too small for him to feel comfortable; I also don't think he likes the curve it has, so he will not sleep in it. So, whatever I house him in, it has to be big enough for him to fit and be comfortable. It will also have to be lower to the ground so he can make it in himself.
Does anyone have any ideas on what to house him in? I can build one if given some pictures or ideas, or I can buy something! Please help and just point me in a good direction. I feel terrible seeing him sleep alone; he is the sweetest, softest rooster who loves his girls, but can't even roost with them.
Here's some pictures of him (doesn't show his true size though)
