Looking for coop ideas for crippled hen

[LtDanFan]

So, i have a crippled hen, margaret hatcher, that i took in because she was not thriving in her previous flock. Former keepers were unable to provide flat roosting bars or platforms for her, and i am a sucker. She only had the option of a round pegged ladder or a floor and i was told that she roosted in a corner of the coop on the floor (probably because with only rounded appendages she could not grip a round bar). Due to what i presume is frostbite, she is missing the distal most digits of her toes on one leg and her entire foot on the other leg. She is wonderful, social, interactive and eats like a champ and since i’ve gotten her has even developed a red tinge to her comb (was pale when she came to me). Not sure if she’s laying but she is not vocal like the other ladies. Doesn’t matter. Shes here to stay.
The issue at hand is that we are having to build a new coop because the pre-fab one we purchased for 2-4 hens has not held up to the 15 birds that regularly cram themselves into it each night. (They like to lay in the other larger pre-fab coop but sleep in the smaller one). Chicken math is all about multiplying, yall. So i want to include a roosting place for sweet peggy (aforementioned margaret) and make sure the others have what they need.
I am thinking of incorporating platforms for peggy and of course it will have a ramp inside for her to make her way up to the top if she wants to.
I’m looking for suggestions of material i can put on the platforms or ways i can modify the roosting bars so that my gal can be comfy at night or whenever she wishes but i can still keep it clean.
Thank you!!

 

[FarmerGirl101]

I'm not sure how you can modify the roosting bars for her so I would stick to platforms personally. I would build it out of wood and then place something on top of it. For the something on top of it, I'd use the same material as the nesting boxes that you can easily remove/clean. This can straw, pine shaving, I use turf squares. Putting a small boarder up could help keep the material on the platform so she doesn't kick it off.

 

[LtDanFan]

I'm not sure how you can modify the roosting bars for her so I would stick to platforms personally. I would build it out of wood and then place something on top of it. For the something on top of it, I'd use the same material as the nesting boxes that you can easily remove/clean. This can straw, pine shaving, I use turf squares. Putting a small boarder up could help keep the material on the platform so she doesn't kick it off.

That’s what i was thinking. Maybe vinyl from the remnants section of my home improvement store plus replaceable nest pads and plan on changing them often, I can have him put a platform that just combines with over/into the roosting space. Just didn’t know if there was another way to do this as i didn’t want to re-invent the wheel if i didn't have to, but ill invent a wheel if i have to.

 

[Helping No-Tail-A]

So, i have a crippled hen, margaret hatcher, that i took in because she was not thriving in her previous flock. Former keepers were unable to provide flat roosting bars or platforms for her, and i am a sucker. She only had the option of a round pegged ladder or a floor and i was told that she roosted in a corner of the coop on the floor (probably because with only rounded appendages she could not grip a round bar). Due to what i presume is frostbite, she is missing the distal most digits of her toes on one leg and her entire foot on the other leg. She is wonderful, social, interactive and eats like a champ and since i’ve gotten her has even developed a red tinge to her comb (was pale when she came to me). Not sure if she’s laying but she is not vocal like the other ladies. Doesn’t matter. Shes here to stay.
The issue at hand is that we are having to build a new coop because the pre-fab one we purchased for 2-4 hens has not held up to the 15 birds that regularly cram themselves into it each night. (They like to lay in the other larger pre-fab coop but sleep in the smaller one). Chicken math is all about multiplying, yall. So i want to include a roosting place for sweet peggy (aforementioned margaret) and make sure the others have what they need.
I am thinking of incorporating platforms for peggy and of course it will have a ramp inside for her to make her way up to the top if she wants to.
I’m looking for suggestions of material i can put on the platforms or ways i can modify the roosting bars so that my gal can be comfy at night or whenever she wishes but i can still keep it clean.
Thank you!!

hey! Can you post a pic of her feet?

 

[FarmerGirl101]

That’s what i was thinking. Maybe vinyl from the remnants section of my home improvement store plus replaceable nest pads and plan on changing them often, I can have him put a platform that just combines with over/into the roosting space. Just didn’t know if there was another way to do this as i didn’t want to re-invent the wheel if i didn't have to, but ill invent a wheel if i have to.

That sounds good. I would honestly look into turf squares. They are easily washable and will save you some money as you won't have to constantly replace them as they'll get dirty often.

 

[LtDanFan]

hey! Can you post a pic of her feet?

This is all i have so far. I can take better pics tomorrow. But for reference this is the foot she has, the other leg ends in a literal peg. No toes at all.

 

[Helping No-Tail-A]

This is all i have so far. I can take better pics tomorrow. But for reference this is the foot she has, the other leg ends in a literal peg. No toes at all.

wow ok...I also have a crippled chicken and wasn't sure if they would be the same. Her toes are completely unusable and her elbows are completely bent. Her legs aren't straight anymore. I wasn't sure if it was anything like mine. In that case, roosting is hard! the only thing I can think of is to make her an elevated place for her to roost on that is flat maybe so the other chickens won't pick on her, and that would at least be better than sitting on the ground. If you make it a certain size, when she uses the bathroom it should fall on the coop floor, better than her sitting in it. Id probably just use like OSB board or smthg like that but I have no clue.

 

[LtDanFan]

Took these pics today.
She gets around well, eats like a champ and since i’ve gotten her, she has put on some weight and her comb has turned red from the baby pale it was at first. She gets along with everyone as far as i can tell and she’s one of the OG hens, so the littles i’ve added since she came to live with me seem to accept her authority. She is by no means a top tier hen though. But she’s not picked on. She climbs up the ramp to the coop and i think she pretty much just huddles in the middle. Because the coop they prefer to sleep in is too small for 12 birds, they mostly end up just cramming themselves in where they can and she’s not the only one sleeping on the floor. They also sleep in the nesting boxes. i just want to give her a platform where she can get up high and maybe stress out less.

 

[Justagalwithchicks]

Took these pics today.
She gets around well, eats like a champ and since i’ve gotten her, she has put on some weight but her comb has turned red. She gets along with everyone as far as i can tell and she’s one of the OG hens, so the littles i’ve added seem to accept her authority. She is by no means a top tier hen though. But she’s not picked on. She climbs up the ramp to the coop and i think she pretty much just huddles in the middle. Because the coop they prefer to sleep in is too small for 12 birds, they mostly end up just cramming themselves in where they can and she’s not the only one sleeping on the floor. They also sleep in the nesting boxes. i just want to give her a platform where she can get up high and maybe stress out less.

I have no knowledge on how to help with roosting, but want to say thanks for being a kind soul and taking on a disabled chicken. God Bless you

 

[LtDanFan]

I was nervous at first, because i didn’t know if i could provide her with what she needed. But fortunately, i have the best BF in the world and he knew i wanted to help her so he made it his mission to accommodate us. I dont care if she never lays, although it would be awesome. But her lifetime egg rent has been paid by her rough start in my opinion. Just seeing her run towards me when i enter the chicken yard, eat worms out of my hand and rip into a freshly grown bell pepper like its her life’s mission has made it all worth it.
Adopting her has solidified my role as “sucker” with my chicken-having friends too lol. I was asked if i would take in a scissor beaked baby so i have a feeling i will soon be running a home for unfortunate hens. Hahaha.