Nesting boxes outside NO COOP??? PICS ON PG2

[Rusty Hills Farm]

I'm in the country now, but for 15 years I lived in a house on a lot in town. We had stray dogs, feral cats, rat snakes, hawks, so there are LOTS of things that can get a chicken, even in town. One easy solution is a hardware cloth hutch with a roof. Come cold weather, add sheets of plywood to each exposed side and take them down when warm weather returns. We had our nests on the outside, too, but these were roofed, too, and if we didn't check them at least twice a day, the rat snakes got the eggs.

Once we moved the chickens to the country, the snakes quit coming around, so, yes, wildlife KNOWS where the chickens are!

Hawke

 

[bossynbella]

We started out with 5 adult hens and we housed them outside for over a year with no problem what so ever. We made a nest box out of an old metal shelf and they where in a pen with a 8' tall fence.
We currently are again keeping the majority of the flock outside as we are using the coop for the babies at the moment.

Sorry but it does work nothing has ever killed any of our chickens and we live at the bottom of a hill covered in timber. We have seen opposumms and skunks and we hear Cyottes(sp) all the time. Maybe our dog keeps them away I really dont know. But its not impossible to keep them outside if you have a good pen.

Melissa

 

[Chirpy]

My suggestion would be for your friends to find a dog house or rabbit hutch (try Craigslist)or something of that nature that would fit the five hens at night. Have them lock the hens up every night in that secure enclosure.

Then, have them lower the nest boxes so they are only a foot or so off the ground. Put a solid cover on the nest boxes (chickens like darker boxes).

If they can't securely fence them in during the day right now, maybe the chickens will last long enough until he can build a secure coop and run. But they do need to know that the chances of them losing one or all before that time are pretty high. However, with that six foot wooden fence they may be fine.

If it was me I'd find the secure dog house or such for nighttime and spend the money to make a small chicken tractor with hardware cloth or 2x4 fence - just large enough for the hens until he can put something much larger and more permanent together.

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
I firmly agree with all you told her .

Also , he can build like a 6 or 8 ft. cage about 3 or 4 ft. deep for at night . LOWERING those nest boxes about 12 - 18 inches off the ground , is perfect suggestion .

 

[estpr13]

I also live in KY. About one block from the Univ. of KY college of Business. I put a catchem-alive trap between my coop and a chain link fence and caught 8 opossum, 8 raccoons, 4 ferrel cats, and one ground hog in a six month period.
It seems that not only do the chickens catch critters attention, but the chicken feed also draws all kind of birds which in turn draws preditors to the ruckus.
I work nights and with the lengthing of daylight my hens didn't all want to go up before I left for work and I have lost two who nested on the ground. The ones that roosted on the wooden fence like the one pictured managed to survive the night.
I agree with just putting a roof on the nests, and a hinged front which you can lower down. But make sure it is fairly tight as my coop door has been chewed on. and scratched.

 

[pattee]

Quote:
Yep this has happened in our neighborhood also. The feed does attract animals. Yes our door has been scratched also... glad they are inside...

Yea I don't think we need to beat up on the husband ~ you all are doing the best you can. But I would hope you'll get something for them to be safe at night.