I need opinions

[love67742]

I think that would work. Can you attach some hardware cloth to the gate so raccoons can’t reach through and weasels and rats can’t squeeze in? How many birds and how big is it? Also, is there space to add a little roost?

I'll try to get some hardware cloth. Raccoons are a big threat. They come to my house very often, but i'm sure they won't be able to get the chicks.

 

[micstrachan]

We have raccoons all the time, too. Raccoons are strong and smart. Will they be able to get to the gate on the crate? They can easily reach through that. We learned that the hard way. had a raccoon pull a whole bunny THROUGH the wire of a puppy pen. Also, they can open things easily with their little hands. Make sure the locking mechanism is smarter that the raccoon. Good luck!

 

[love67742]

We have raccoons all the time, too. Raccoons are strong and smart. Will they be able to get to the gate on the crate? They can easily reach through that. We learned that the hard way. had a raccoon pull a whole bunny THROUGH the wire of a puppy pen. Also, they can open things easily with their little hands. Make sure the locking mechanism is smarter that the raccoon. Good luck!

I can also put a cloth over the cage, to make sure the chicks will be extra safe.

 

[micstrachan]

Just make sure they still have ventilation, too.

 

[Flamens Farm]

Just a thought... I have a chicken who lays eggs and then eats them soon after. I really want to save some of the eggs . I would put them in a shelter at night so no animals could find their way in. But I would keep them in a box once they first hatch.

So you already have chickens? A hen laying eggs, then you have a rooster as well? You want to incubate fertile eggs to have chicks. During this time you could build the coop and pen before they hatch? It would take 21 days for incubation plus the time it takes you to get eggs to hatch. Why the extra work for a temporary pen? Or you want to buy baby chicks and put them in a temporary pen until you build a coop and pen? Still, don't understand the extra work. You could buy a plastic tote for a few dollars, a heat lamp and use rabbit fence form fitted over the top of the tote with the light sitting on it and put it in a closed garage or bathroom or room while you build the coop and pen. That would save a lot of time and money from having to build 2. Just a suggestion for you to think about.

 

[townchicks]

None of those ideas sound particularly safe to me, especially with raccoons around. If you don't have the chicks yet, build a secure coop first. If you already have them, they should be in a brooder in the house or garage anyway. Where do you keep your egg-eating hen? Do you just have the one? Is her coop big enough that you could integrate the chicks into it?

 

[True Patriot]

When it comes to raccoons, never be sure of anything. They are extremely intelligent,agile and cunning. They can open most latches. And if they can't they're experts at finding another way. I agree with the others, it would be better if a permanent coop was available before building a flock for it. Long run, it's cheaper and safer. There are plenty of threads on BYC to help you out on design and predator proofing. And always feel free to ask for help.

 

[micstrachan]

I was thinking the OP already had chicks that need a short term outdoor night enclosure, but just reread.

I, too, highly recommend waiting until you have a safe enclosure. My first chicks lived inside the house for a couple weeks and then in the garage. They were not outdoors until they had a secure coop. It would be tragic for you to think your birds were safe only to wake up to losses and/or injuries in the morning.

 

[love67742]

So I remembered my grandpa had a small coop-like thing for chicks to be raised in. It's been used tons of times for raising newly hatched chicks. It has a door that has a lock too high for a raccoon to get it. There's no possible way that any animals can dig under it. It also has heating lamps hanging from the top of the little ceiling, though i'm assuming they don't work since it's been so long since it's been used. So I walked over, and he told me I was allowed to use as many eggs as I wanted and he said I could use the small coop. I'm going to try to hatch three chicks. Thank you all for the help/suggestions.