Indoor keeping

[giwa]

I know this site is called "backyard" chickens but I need indoor advice. I have a rooster, Loved pet rooster, That I keep in a coop indoors at night and when I am not home. I do this to keep him safe.
- I purchased this coop when he was still a baby. This coop was to be used outdoors inside a pen but when I went to pick up the coop and brought it home I realized that there was no way this thing would hold up to the elements or predators. Don't exactly know why this thing would be sold for use in the first place! - So I kept the coop inside for him to be in when he is indoors without my being present. On the bottom it has a wire floor above a pull out tray. I put newspapers in the tray and his poop would fall through the wire bottom and onto the newspaper which I would clear everyday. This has surprisingly worked beautifully, like a birdcage, until about the past week. His poops are now too big to fall through the wire anymore and when he gets down on the floor he steps in it and it gets all over his feet. It is disgusting. I haven't been able to hold him or let him down on my indoor floor to walk around for about a week now. I can only take him straight outside anymore without any petting or affection, then he has to go back into the coop and disgusting situation again at night. I can't stand this. I miss how things used to be and I can tell he does too.
Does anyone have any recommendations on keeping a chicken indoors? Especially keeping them clean?

I do understand there may be no hope. So, please, no negative commenting. Only constructive criticism or advice.
I was sold a rooster chick while under the impression I was purchasing a female. It is not his fault and I can not leave him outside to crow in the mornings or when he is left alone.
Also my rooster does not want to be out alone at night. He gets scared.

 

[coltgrizzz]

I’ve never had an indoor chicken before but i would recommend cleaning their feet a few times regardless. Unlike their feathers, their feet are fine to wash whenever. You also might want to look into that plastic coop that sits on the floor. It doesn’t have much of a bottom and is mostly roosting bars but the panels on the bottom are removable and can be cleaned in the sink whenever.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

I've not kept chickens indoors either but wondered about a poop board. A tray with sand or sweet pdz in that he would poop onto instead of letting it fall through the grate. If possible you could also put down some sand or pdz for him to walk in. Then if he steps in some poo the grit of the floor should take it off. Like walking on the beach.

 

[giwa]

I’ve never had an indoor chicken before but i would recommend cleaning their feet a few times regardless. Unlike their feathers, their feet are fine to wash whenever. You also might want to look into that plastic coop that sits on the floor. It doesn’t have much of a bottom and is mostly roosting bars but the panels on the bottom are removable and can be cleaned in the sink whenever.

Thank you for your response! I looked up plastic coops. I'm not sure if I am finding what you are talking about. Would this be a special kind of coop or is it just a chicken coop that is plastic and sits on the floor, and that is what makes the difference?

 

[giwa]

I've not kept chickens indoors either but wondered about a poop board. A tray with sand or sweet pdz in that he would poop onto instead of letting it fall through the grate. If possible you could also put down some sand or pdz for him to walk in. Then if he steps in some poo the grit of the floor should take it off. Like walking on the beach.

Thanks! I will look into these things. I've never heard of the board before, or sweat pdz.

 

[Anansi]

This is Gurtrude's enclosure.


I clean it daily, including spraying the floor with bird safe cleaner and using a swiffer sweeper with dry floor cloths as a mop.

The floor is a half sheet of plywood with self adhesive tile on top, so upkeep is relatively simple.

As far as dirty feet, I wash Gurtrude's feet before letting her on the floor or my lap. You can either wash them under running water or with a damp paper towel. I prefer under running water using my hands, but you can get some cheap washcloths and cut them in to quarters and use those so your not touching dirty feet. I usually pick Gurtrude up and flip her over so she's being held like a football with her feet up where I can keep them from getting everything messy. It will take a couple times to get the hang of it, but once you do, everything goes pretty quick. Gurtrude knows the deal, so she doesn't give me much hassle.

Another option than can work is using hay or straw. My other indoor chicken has straw in her enclosure, and is a cochin, so has feathered feet. I rarely have to clean her feet before letting her out.

 

[townchicks]

Since he sleeps inside, you might consider that he doesn't actually need a coop, something like a dog exercise pen may work better for you. You can lay down a piece of linoleum to protect your floor and put down pine shavings to help absorb the poo. Poops can be scooped out with a cat litter scoop to keep the pen clean. An ex-pen would give him more room to avoid stepping in his poop.

 

[Anansi]

The pen in the pic for Gurtrude is 16 sq. ft, and sits in our living room. I clean it every evening, and the litter box, her nest box, has hay in it. I could easily put some mesh or boards around the base of the pen, then add hay or other safe bedding if I want, but I don't have a problem with cleaning it or Gurtrude's feet.

However you figure it out, as long as it doesn't hurt the bird, is fine. Basically, it just needs to work for your situation. There are lots of possible solutions, look at what is available in your area, and what your finances will allow you to do. You can find plenty of possibilities.

There is a forum on here for those of us who do have indoor chickens. You're definitely not the only one here. I find that people with indoor chickens tend to do so out of necessity, but some, like me, prefer to only have a couple birds, and having them indoors is a reasonable option, especially if they are smaller breeds. Gurtrude literally walked in to our lives on a rainy October night in 2016. Our garage was open, she was soaked and looking for someplace warm and dry. She's been happy ever since, and she prompted us to get her a friend, the banty cochin, who occupies the other pen in the pic. When they are out, they are together, they just have separate pens because Gurtrude doesn't want to share her pen.

 

[coltgrizzz]

Thank you for your response! I looked up plastic coops. I'm not sure if I am finding what you are talking about. Would this be a special kind of coop or is it just a chicken coop that is plastic and sits on the floor, and that is what makes the difference?

I believe it’s called a snap lock plastic coop or something of that nature? It’s pretty good for keeping a bird or two. The only downside is that it only has one window which you might like but i’m a fan of my girls having lots of em! Also i’m pretty sure there was a thread on here about it somewhere. http://snaplockchickencoops.com/

 

[giwa]

This is Gurtrude's enclosure.
View attachment 1515669

I clean it daily, including spraying the floor with bird safe cleaner and using a swiffer sweeper with dry floor cloths as a mop.

The floor is a half sheet of plywood with self adhesive tile on top, so upkeep is relatively simple.

As far as dirty feet, I wash Gurtrude's feet before letting her on the floor or my lap. You can either wash them under running water or with a damp paper towel. I prefer under running water using my hands, but you can get some cheap washcloths and cut them in to quarters and use those so your not touching dirty feet. I usually pick Gurtrude up and flip her over so she's being held like a football with her feet up where I can keep them from getting everything messy. It will take a couple times to get the hang of it, but once you do, everything goes pretty quick. Gurtrude knows the deal, so she doesn't give me much hassle.

Another option than can work is using hay or straw. My other indoor chicken has straw in her enclosure, and is a cochin, so has feathered feet. I rarely have to clean her feet before letting her out.

I really like your enclosure! And, lol, there is noo way my rooster would let me put him on his back. And he would also give me drama washing his feet under water. He would flail his feet and make a stinky mess of my arms or shirt. Even though he can be cuddly and calm he just fights situations that put him in vulnerable positions. So I would have to go the route of a bedding or straw or some way to keep him off the floor all together. I thought about putting another perch in the coop to maybe do this. I don't think he would be able to get to the ground that way or maybe wouldn't want to try to?
I am collecting and investigating all the options.