I am soooooo close to giving up.. Graphic story warning

[Sequel]

My Dad doesn't allow me to have any electrical anything up by the chickens. (I managed to sneak a heat lamp out here by plugging multiple extension cords and running it into his building secretly)

Plus if I used electrical fencing, it would shock the cows that roam up here and my Dad would rather cook up all the chickens than have one of his precious cows shocked by the fencing.

My dad is one of those "I grew up raising chickens so they don't need all of this stuff you think they need" aka a closed in coop, heat lamp for baby chicks, actual fencing around the tops of the coops..

I had to beg him to let me put wire around the top of the chicken coop, and he got me chicken wire because "nothing can break through chicken wire".

Well it sounds like you have a few things to get worked out then. Until you have parental support to help solve the predator problem, I wouldn't get any more babies. Do what you can to keep the animals you have safe.

You seem to be very responsible and capable, I think your parents must be very proud. I would be! Good luck to you and let us know how things go.

 

[LunaMarieWolf]

After two days of working on this.

Spending $40 on wire at Atwoods.

Multiple fire ants and biting flies driving me insane.

I HAVE FINISHED!

I used a lottt of zip ties and the wire cut me more times than I can count.

It is covered by 1/2 inch wire (except for the door area)

The door has been fixed to where it has 2 layers of doors and wiring.

Plus I also layered these doors so that it made a square pattern, hopefully making it harder for anything to crawl inside.

Then I added a "new" wire floor, so if anything was to reach up or crawl in from the bottom, it would be trapped in a dead space.

Also, I am going to get a lock for the cage, just incase.

I will show you guys some pictures once I get everything set up for the chicks!

 

[centrarchid]

Get chicks to sleep in a box within that cage. As shown a raccoon can still reach between bars of front door to pull chicks if they are in reach.

 

[centrarchid]

Otherwise, very much getting there. I would still put the whole thing inside a pen with adults.

 

[LunaMarieWolf]

Get chicks to sleep in a box within that cage. As shown a raccoon can still reach between bars of front door to pull chicks if they are in reach.

So do I need to keep them in a box inside the cage, or train them to sleep in a box in the cage?

 

[aart]

I am currently re-wiring the enitre cage to put the little chickies back in.

View attachment 1866686

I lost another chick during the night so I am making a quick run to Atwoods to pick up a chick for my sister (all her chicks she wanted were killed and the one last night that died was the last one she specially picked out to have).

The cage was wired up off the ground, connected to the other rabbit cage where the bottom back half of the cage was covered by the sheet metal.


Something got inside the cage with them, because the bodies were everywhere in the cage, but some were torn apart and were on the floor.

This cage looks to have 1x3" openings....least weasel could get in easy.

 

[centrarchid]

So do I need to keep them in a box inside the cage, or train them to sleep in a box in the cage?

Put them in after dark if you have to. I try to imprint my chicks on roosting in a box for a variety of reasons. One is for exactly your situation where you want to keep them clear of cage walls a predator will maim or eat them through.

 

[LunaMarieWolf]

Here it is all set up!

And an extra photo of their cute bunny neighbors!

(Don't mind the weird looking chick, it tumbled into the water dish and I tried to dry him off a bit)

 

[BigBlueHen53]

A heat lamp around all that hay sounds like a fire hazard to me, Hon. Do you have an enclosed plastic dog crate or cat carrier you could put them in? Or could you borrow one? Then if they snuggle together they will keep each other warm, plus a weasel is less likely to reach them, nor could a raccoon reach a paw in to grab them.

 

[LunaMarieWolf]

A heat lamp around all that hay sounds like a fire hazard to me, Hon. Do you have an enclosed plastic dog crate or cat carrier you could put them in? Or could you borrow one? Then if they snuggle together they will keep each other warm, plus a weasel is less likely to reach them, nor could a raccoon reach a paw in to grab them.

Heat lamp is not on since it is 90 degrees outside.

Plus the hay is temporary while my Dad is out getting more shavings for the cage.