Managing an indoor bantam aviary

[Elisheva-Tee]

I have raised many flocks of chickens, built many coops but now find myself empty handed and just moved to an apartment that has a spacious, roomy 20 x 8 ft open-air covered porch. the porch is wall to wall, floor to ceiling, leuvered windows without screens but can be cranked shut in rainy or cold weather. Since I am on a quest under these conditions to raise as much food/veggies as possible, I find myself in unfamiliar territory with the hope of getting and properly raising 3 or 4 bantams in a 10' x 5' caged aviary (plus, I just love chickens). Thinking about one of the Eggloo pre-fab coops & runs (easy to clean of mites). I never before had to actually think about scratching, foraging, odor, and poop issues since in my past they were always in very large outdoor chicken pens kept clean by rain, sun, and occasional poop patrol. i hope to start with same age female chicks I figure that with a tile floor i would need a rubber mat, topped with thick layer of (what?)... or a thin well-maintained layer of (what?). Would kitty litter - or similar small grained material allow for daily scooping of droppings? I'd round out their aviary with hanging toys and veggies to pick at and a dust bin. So... any suggestions how to make this work? Space isn't the issue. Giving them as close to a natural experience as possible/feasible is the issue, while providing me with eggs. (I prefer small eggs)

 

[Callender Girl]

I just saw your intro post, so I HAD to check out this one. I also love Bantams (I have five in my mixed flock) and have an indoor chicken.

I love that you're looking at making the porch into an aviary, although I'm sure some folks will tell you that chickens need to be outdoors. My Dottie (long story, she has issues with other chickens) does take "field trips" outside, but lives in a giant dog crate in my dining room where I don't have to worry about predators or extreme weather.

With a single bird, I don't bother with litter; I just scrape the plastic crate floor clean every day.

It looks like you are considering all the issues I would think of. Kudos to you for wanting to make things as natural as possible.

I hope to hear how all of this works out!

 

[Kittyhoho]

I just saw your intro post, so I HAD to check out this one. I also love Bantams (I have five in my mixed flock) and have an indoor chicken.

I love that you're looking at making the porch into an aviary, although I'm sure some folks will tell you that chickens need to be outdoors. My Dottie (long story, she has issues with other chickens) does take "field trips" outside, but lives in a giant dog crate in my dining room where I don't have to worry about predators or extreme weather.

With a single bird, I don't bother with litter; I just scrape the plastic crate floor clean every day.

It looks like you are considering all the issues I would think of. Kudos to you for wanting to make things as natural as possible.

I hope to hear how all of this works out!

Indoor chickens has always been super interesting to me even tho it’s not something I myself could do haha. I’m curious tho, is there an odor with no bedding? Do you line the crate with newspaper? I’d actually love to see a pic of your set up if you’re up for it.

 

[Callender Girl]

Since I scrape the droppings off the plastic floor ever day, there's really not a big odor problem. Yes, there are times when the Very Fresh Poop smells a bit -- so sometimes, I clean more often.

I am not adept at putting up photos, but it's just a giant wire dog crate (which used to house a Great Pyrenees), so Dottie has plenty of ventilation and is able to see what's going on in the rest of the house, She has dishes for food and calcium/and or grit, and a waterer. There's a short roost at one end and a plastic tote she uses for laying eggs -- and for sleeping. That gets new excelsior nest pads as needed.

I wish she could have made friends with other chickens, but it just didn't happen. Sometimes, I feel badly that she's alone. But many people keep a single parakeet or other "domesticated" bird, so maybe Dottie isn't unhappy. She's healthy, well-fed, safe and loved.