INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[daskhan]

I've seen the 3 by 4 used for jersey giants and I have my buffs in one so big breeds do fine of course yourll need a run.. But I'll post a pic shortly

 

[daskhan]

I've actually added one to the bottom so there's technically two but still

 

[daskhan]

When compared to the chickens atleast five can fit in one if they are just sleeping and for the winter I'm thinking hearing pad

 

[chick rookie]

I have seen cute dog house used for coops for smaller breeds but plastic totes would be more of a summertime thing I think. I've seen what a 25 pound 2 year old can do to plastic totes. Snow is heavy and I'm thinking the tote would crash under the weight similar to how one of my older totes crashed under my then 2yr old. He thought it was a blast but chickens would not be amused.

I use dog houses for my smaller kids like my Silkies, and the Cornish have 1 now but they are quickly outgrowing it, its a med dog house and they just do have room to sleep. most nights they want to sleep outside cause they put off allot of body heat and the house just don't allow room for them to get away from each other.

I've actually added one to the bottom so there's technically two but still

I would worry about the snow collapsing the tote as well. I'm a worry wort....

I already have the wood so going to go with that but thanks that would be a great ideal for needing something fast and in the summer, and I would never have thought of doing that.


I have been thinking about it and I put a test perch just above the ground, and I was right in thinking they were too clumsy. Waddles hoped on and fell right off. I left it in all day and he just couldn't get the balance and I used a good wide board. So if I don't want any broken necks ( which I do not ) I am saying no to a perch.

I will post pic's of Waddles tomorrow to show you how big he is and he is still a juvenile and I will be adding 2 hens his size after their isolation period is over.

This is the first time I have raised Cornish and I cant get over the size of them, I have had BJG that were big but not this big at this age. I am really hoping he stops growing soon.

 

[daskhan]

I hadn't really thought about using it in the winter it's more of a summer thing but I was told if you add a heat pad you needent worry about snow... It'll melt but I check often anyways so I could just clear it.. The idea came from a breeder who couldn't find anything for her 20 pound jersey giants to use as nest boxes so she used a tote with a hole and it worked perfectly not sure what she does in winter I believe she was in Texas so not much snow... Up here I believe it might get to cold even with a heat pad idk yet first winter here with chickens

 

[daskhan]

Also it might be that's specific Cornish is a cluts no offence but chicken cyclist has a perch in everyone of his tractors and they do fine but idk really your choice he doesn't need it besides Cornish x don't exactly live that long normally

 

[Leahs Mom]

Sorry if I sound (fill in the blank)...but there's no way in heck that I'd use something like that if you're going to keep your birds over winter.

I have a hen shed that's 8x12 and, in my opinion, it's too small for more than about 4 birds in the winter time when they don't really want to go outside. 6 is stretching it. If you don't have enough indoor room in the winter, someone gets "forced" outside. It just depends on who "rules the roost" as to who gets ousted.

I just see that as poor husbandry and irresponsible as far as taking care of the animals in a healthy way.

Like I said, I probably sound like a (fill in the blank). But it seems just plain wrong to me.

 

[Candy442]

Got a question????????????????????????????????????????

We are building a winter house for Waddles ( Chubs was killed by a weasel 2 days ago. Waddles misses her )
anyway the house will be 4' x 3'5" and 4' tall and will be 4" off the ground. We are getting him 2 hen off a friend so he wont be alone so that makes 3 they already have a covered run that I can easily block off in bad weather so they wont have to live in the house on days that are bad.
Q. 1 = would that be big enough for them to just sleep in?
Q. 2 = would you put in a perch? If so how high off the floor?
They are very clumsy and I personally think they would be better off without a perch but I have never raised these birds before and I want them to be HAPPY!!!! but safe at the same time of course.

Definitely a roost with what we find is best for chickens...a 2 x 4 laying on its side..so they can perch on the 4 inch top, nestle down over their feet to keep them warm in frigid weather. Last two years of these uber chilled Michigan winters and all my birds have nary a foot/toe issue we are glad to report. We put ours so the sleeping birds would not be near a draft from the windows. So I would guess high enough they could climb on and off without jumping should do the trick at minimum.

 

[Candy442]

I've actually added one to the bottom so there's technically two but still

I would worry in the winter of too much moisture building up in a plastic tote. That would spell disaster for frostbite but I am not able to see if the tote has openings for air. Another problem we would have with the tote set up is the raccoons would be able to tear through it too easily and kill the birds. However, whatever container used for sleeping quarters more than enough ventilation is an absolute must for chickens. The bottom run piece, if covered on all sides with hardware cloth would make a much better winter coop technically. I would berm the sides with straw bales and cover the top with plastic roofing pieces on an angle to allow light, but also easy to brush off snow.
The run as pictured above would only be large enough for sleeping for those four birds though. They would need a bigger run even during the winter.

 

[chick rookie]

I hadn't really thought about using it in the winter it's more of a summer thing but I was told if you add a heat pad you needent worry about snow... It'll melt but I check often anyways so I could just clear it.. The idea came from a breeder who couldn't find anything for her 20 pound jersey giants to use as nest boxes so she used a tote with a hole and it worked perfectly not sure what she does in winter I believe she was in Texas so not much snow... Up here I believe it might get to cold even with a heat pad idk yet first winter here with chickens

Winters here are hard on my chickens, that's why I always try and give them plenty of room inside. This year I have so many different pens that I am coming up with houses out of scrap and whatever is laying around. I would say 99% of the time my kids are always outside, even in the coldest weather cause I cover the runs and put tarp sides up in winter. and my big runs I will put up like an inclosed porch type of thing. so they always have room to get out of the coop without freezing. plus I don't like water in the coops in the winter so I want some place for that without the girls being too cold yo go out and get a drink.
I have been doing this for the past 4 years and it has worked out. Course I get it better every year. The first year I had allot of frost bite on combs and waddles, no feet I'm glad to say. but not since then, I have learned.... The hard way. Then I found this thread and the friendly people here are quick to tell ya what works best for them and then you can go from there.

Also it might be that's specific Cornish is a cluts no offence but chicken cyclist has a perch in everyone of his tractors and they do fine but idk really your choice he doesn't need it besides Cornish x don't exactly live that long normally

Yes my poor boy is a cluts... God bless him, but I love him anyway.. lol
I know they don't live as long as other chickens, but as long as they are here they will have the best that I can give them based on their individual needs.

Definitely a roost with what we find is best for chickens...a 2 x 4 laying on its side..so they can perch on the 4 inch top, nestle down over their feet to keep them warm in frigid weather. Last two years of these uber chilled Michigan winters and all my birds have nary a foot/toe issue we are glad to report. We put ours so the sleeping birds would not be near a draft from the windows. So I would guess high enough they could climb on and off without jumping should do the trick at minimum.

I have wide boards in all my coops and 2x4's do work well, I agree, but for this group I have decided to not use a "perch" but DH says he will build nest boxes with extra sturdy tops so they can sit on top of them, That gets them off the floor and will allow then to keep their feet warm too. I will just have to scrap the tops off every day so they aren't sitting in poo...