Is an indoor coop possible?

[SeramaMama]

Hi,
I'm new to BYC, and am seeking advice on raising Serama chickens. I live in a suburb between Denver and Boulder, CO that has very strict HOA rules, so an outdoor coop is out of the question. Since Seramas are small and often kept as indoor pets (so I've read), I'm wondering whether it would be feasible to make a coop inside.

The best and really only place I would be able to put them is in the basement. Luckily there are window wells, so that some natural light comes in during the day, but obviously I'd need some very pleasant, probably SAD-preventing bulbs going for them when they're indoors. My plan is to take them out in the backyard for a couple hours a day, and let them peck at the ground under a screened/half-shaded shelter. But most of the time they would have to be indoors.

These are my concerns, though, so I would really appreciate feedback:

1) Chicken poop smell in basement, permeating through entire house

2) Depressed, Vitamin-D-deprived chickens

3) Chicken dander making everyone in the family ill and covering the basement (heard that this is an issue)

4) Chicken pests such as red mites becoming a problem and not having a good way to treat it that wouldn't fill the basement with some kind of toxic fume

5) Mice becoming attracted to the coop and bringing all their friends

6) Coyotes jumping over our 4-foot-fence (an HOA regulation) after smelling yummy chickens having their daily (weather-permitting) picnic in the grass

Is there anything I've missed? Really want chickens, but really want to be realistic about it. I only want two Serama hens and a rooster. I'm not talking about housing two dozen chickens in my basement (but if you've accomplished that, please let me know how!)

Thanks in advance for your feedback! I've been researching this for weeks now and am driving the family crazy (think Close Encounters with Richard Dreyfuss making a mesa out of his mashed potatoes).

-- SeramaMama

 

[NancyP]

For sanitary reasons for both you and the birds I would say no. To me it's not can you but should you that is the question.
Nancy

 

[AHappychick]

I have a coop in my basement and tons of brooders in my basement I do it for the same reason I live in a no chook zone. and I hate it (th animals in the house that is) I am now down to just roos in the garage and still full brooders in the basement and it is a bit better. I would say atatch something to the house that looks like a shed and house them in that with seperate filters and ventilation, use a real grow light or good windows or possibly a skylight for sun.

Good luck

 

[BluegrassSeramas]

I know a lady in a "modular home" that has a little broom closet in her hallway facing an outside door. She had the door removed, lined the inside with linoleum, and had a screen door put on the front with toys and ledges and all kinds of cool stuff.. You could smell them a little and it was kinda dusty, but I've seen/smelled cat people with worse.

My partner has his few breeding pens in his basement. His house never smells.
He keeps the bedding dry and changes it often to compost his garden.

You can get special light bulbs that will emit "natural" rays for vitamin D...and when you have electricity, you can keep the lights on longer for better laying!

The dust is an issue for cleaning, I dont think anyone has gotten sick in there. Unless they have chicken allergies???...I guess it depends on how you feel about dust. His basement is unfurnished on that side and he just sweeps it all down. Its not covered in layers or anything.

He takes all his birds outside to dust them for mites and oil their legs and then lets them settle in a chicken tractor or cage without a bottom...this is good, b/c its nice to get on grass once in a while anyway. He keeps it clean and has not had any big mite problems. They flap all the bug dust outside...

I dont know about mice..I guess it depends on if they were there anyway, and if you kept the food cleaned up, and stored well.

Build a simple small chicken tractor, or for an easy way--look on craigslist for a dog kennel or something that you can top off with a stack of Concrete bricks.

A trio of Seramas wont take up that much space or make that much of a mess. Just make sure the cage has high wooden sides so that they dont scratch out shavings all over the floor.

OR--you could just put them in the living roo with something like this:
http://www.cagesbydesign.com/entity/tabid/76/c-156-coffee-table.aspx

Best of luck!! They are the best breed ever!!

 

[Becky_H]

The only thing I can address is smell adn that's fairly simple: Keep them clean and you'll have no problems. All of my chooks sitll come inside to roost at night, adn there's a lot more than 3 of them, and they're not as tiny as Seramas. I just use regular old bird cages (big ones) with perches, clean the trays out after I let them out in the morning and that is that.

 

[SeramaLife]

I used to have an indoor winter coop in my room. It was fine, no sickness, no dust, and as long as I kept the cage clean, happy seramas with no smell.

 

[SeramaMama]

Hey, thanks for all these wonderful insights! I really appreciate it!

Now, to investigate this a little further, I have more questions.

I've been looking at all the cool coops here on BYC, and the idea that appeals to me most is to have a little coop with three nestboxes on an upper level and a ramp down, a roost inside and below that area, then a door leading out to the run, and a higher roost in that area. I'm hoping to find a big enough metal pan from a poultry supply dealer that I can construct the run to fit over the pan. Any suggestions as far as overall design with ease-of-use and cleanliness?

The basement is unfinished, with a concrete floor. Is a chicken tractor type coop most desirable because it's moveable? Easier to clean stuff that gets underneath the coop?

Thanks again for all your input!

 

[StrawberryHouseMouse]

I think the big difference here is - 1 or 2 chickens compared to a whole flock of chickens.

You might get away with 1 or 2. But you will have a problem on your hand once you start getting over that. Chickens are not ment to be kept in doors.

You have to ask yourself. Whats more important? Your family's health or you desire to own chickens?

I know for a fact that if anyone in your neighborhood or anyone that knows you have them down there and doesnt like you - or gossips a lot, lets the info leak to the wrong people (Sanitation/Child Wellfair) then your going to be in a LOT of trouble. Might even loose your kids (if you have any) and be fined for child endangerment. (Which isnt a cheap bond fee)

I know a lot of us have brought chickens in at some point. But not a lot of us live in the city. Nore do we live in a zone that restricts chickens. If you can't do it legaly then dont do it at all.

I know that's a little harsh sounding and depressing but you just have to face the facts and stop trying to find ways to get away with it.

 

[Anny]

I think it would be possible to keep then in doors, since people keep large parrots in doors. But they are messy and you'd have to clean up after then often, which would include cleaning up poop on a daily basis to keep the place for smelling.

It would be alot more work to keep them inside, but not impossible.

I keep my chickens coop in my garage with a run going outside.

 

[Anny]

Quote:
I wouldn't keep them in something like that, it's glass on all side. You'd want something that could "breath" and allow the bedding and poop to dry other wise it would get smelly.