Just inherited three chickens! Help!

[Jmac31]

I volunteer for a animal rescue charity that has just bought a kennels. When we got there we found three chickens plus two geese and a pony and two cats.
The chickens were living in a netted enclosure with a coop but the floor was covered in a mixture of mud and I guess poo. It was filthy. I don't know much about chickens, but I assumed they don't like walking in muddy crap?
We decided to move them into a wooden kennel with a grassy area outside. It was the best we could think of at the time. There is no one living on site at the moment, but there will be soon.
I need some advice on whether it is ok in the morning if I let them into the grassy area? Will they be safe from foxes etc? We are in England so no big predators. Also, if we put some temporary shelving up will that do for perches? Should I put sawdust on the floor of the kennel?
The kennel is secure for tonight, but I want to make it as nice as I can for the poor things.
I don't even know if they like the pellets in a bowl or scattered on the floor so they can peck it!
Thank you in advance for any advice.

 

[cackleberrycam]

I would put large pine shavings down on the floor of their kennel. They might try to eat sawdust! I would also put the pellets in a bowl- Do not put them on the ground because they could get contaminate by dirt and attract bugs and pests. As for the perches, I would put up a wooden rod instead of shelves- Although shelves would be good for them if they are laying eggs.
Nice job moving them to a more sanitary area!

Chicken Do enjoy cleanliness!
Welcome to Backyard Chickens!

 

[JennaLynn122]

I volunteer for a animal rescue charity that has just bought a kennels. When we got there we found three chickens plus two geese and a pony and two cats.
The chickens were living in a netted enclosure with a coop but the floor was covered in a mixture of mud and I guess poo. It was filthy. I don't know much about chickens, but I assumed they don't like walking in muddy crap?
We decided to move them into a wooden kennel with a grassy area outside. It was the best we could think of at the time. There is no one living on site at the moment, but there will be soon.
I need some advice on whether it is ok in the morning if I let them into the grassy area? Will they be safe from foxes etc? We are in England so no big predators. Also, if we put some temporary shelving up will that do for perches? Should I put sawdust on the floor of the kennel?
The kennel is secure for tonight, but I want to make it as nice as I can for the poor things.
I don't even know if they like the pellets in a bowl or scattered on the floor so they can peck it!
Thank you in advance for any advice.

I would put large pine shavings down on the floor of their kennel. They might try to eat sawdust! I would also put the pellets in a bowl- Do not put them on the ground because they could get contaminate by dirt and attract bugs and pests. As for the perches, I would put up a wooden rod instead of shelves- Although shelves would be good for them if they are laying eggs.
Nice job moving them to a more sanitary area!

Chicken Do enjoy cleanliness!
Welcome to Backyard Chickens!

I agree with everything above. Pine shavings, straw, or even sand works. Glad you got them in a clean environment. My hens yell at me and chase me around if their coop is too messy for them. I do a light clean at least once every other week but they have a coop built for double the amount of chickens. Sometimes they yell before that. Spoiled spoiled girls

 

[Jmac31]

Just went back with a bag of straw and some shoe boxes, put them into a kennel with wired roof outside and wooden kennel to live in. Chucked the straw everywhere, will go back in the morning with some treats for them. Have called them Django, Henrietta and Margaret !

 

[cackleberrycam]

How fun!

 

[subhanalah]

And how are these three doing?

 

[JennaLynn122]

And how are these three doing?

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