Hi to anyone who wants to tackle some questions!
I have a nice sized run and a little house inside of it for the chickens. After reading lots of the posts about predators I think I would like to keep the chickens locked inside the little house at night. Is this ok to do? I worry they will be upset if I don't get out their fast enough in the morning!
Will they be ok locked up until I open the door? My main concern will be raccoons at night and although I have built a solid run I am still a bit nervous about a raccoon skills. Keeping them in the little house would ease my mind a bit..
Second question: I will need to put a perch in the house- how far should this be off the ground floor?
Third question: I have 8 hens. 2 are bantams. I should make maybe 3 nesting boxes? Do they tend to use the nesting box only for egg laying and then sleep on the perch or floor?
Thanks to anyone who can help!
I have a nice sized run and a little house inside of it for the chickens. After reading lots of the posts about predators I think I would like to keep the chickens locked inside the little house at night. Is this ok to do? I worry they will be upset if I don't get out their fast enough in the morning!
Will they be ok locked up until I open the door? My main concern will be raccoons at night and although I have built a solid run I am still a bit nervous about a raccoon skills. Keeping them in the little house would ease my mind a bit..
Second question: I will need to put a perch in the house- how far should this be off the ground floor?
Third question: I have 8 hens. 2 are bantams. I should make maybe 3 nesting boxes? Do they tend to use the nesting box only for egg laying and then sleep on the perch or floor?
Thanks to anyone who can help!