Newbie HELP!!

[Hamptons06]

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Yes, they will!

 

[Hamptons06]

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What if I bought another crate the same size and put them together? Separate eating/drinking area? I plan to make a PVC pipe feeder.

 

[teach1rusl]

Sure...that would work, it just seems expensive to me??? I guess the lack of a roost would bother me (but maybe chickens don't care about not roosting...good question for another post???). And I can't envision how you'd fit a nesting box... But if it works for you and you see that your chickens are happy, then that's the real deciding factor. The crate I have similar to that has a sliding tray to make clean-up easy. Not that I'm old

, but it seems like an awful lot of stooping to clean, refill, etc. too, it hurts my back thinking about it, but maybe you're a youngster...lol.

 

[Hamptons06]

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I'm 31... but I hate to do that too. What choice do I have right now??? I have to find a way to work with what I have.... unless I find something really cheap on Craigs List (looking now).

 

[clport]

Are the BOs you're getting full grown and have they lived together for a while already? If yes to both questions, here's what I'd do: Attach the two exercise pens together to make one large outdoor run. Cover this with a tarp and attach to the x-pens with clothes pins. Put your food and water in the large outdoor pen. For their inside area, that dog kennel will be OK for now until you can do something better. Lay a 2x4 board on the bottom of the kennel so they can hop up onto that if they want to get off the floor, even just a couple of inches. Be sure to lay the board flat and not on its side so the girls can cover their feet with their tummy and it will keep them warmer at night. You could use pine shavings in the bottom of the kennel instead of hay. Better to compost. You can use the shavings in the laying box, too.

I'm drooling for your shed. So cute!

Wish you were closer to me...I just gave away a coop on CL last week to a newbie!
Carol

 

[Hamptons06]

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Thanks!! Yes, they are 1yo and have been together since they hatched as far as I know. The guy who's selling them to me lost a ton of his flock from a flood (local) and so most are housing in his home.

The shed is heated so they will be plenty warm. I plan to keep the temp around 60 or so in there. The shed has the whole back end with wall to wall cabinets and countertop. I COULD put the large cage up on the counter and make them a plank/ladder to go down on.... put the roosting post (can't remember what it's called) somewhere under the ladder a few inches over the nesting boxes. I'll have to go over tonight with DH and take pics of whatever I end up doing.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions!!! Keep them coming!

 

[patandchickens]

To provide water and food without losing floorspace, use cage waterers and feeders that attach to the sides. You can get plastic thingies that attach to a pop bottle full of water (upside down) with a little drinking cup that protrudes into the cage; and a J-style galvanized rabbit feeder for food. I have used both for chickens and they work fine for just a couple birds. Or anything homemade that produces the same result i.e food and water hung on the walls not taking up floorspace.

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I think you should seriously reconsider that...

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Hamptons06]

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I think you should seriously reconsider that...

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

Should I not have it heated? It's already finished for it.... no space heater or anything.

 

[patandchickens]

Finished for heating is fine. But you really, *really really*, do not need to USE a heater. Chickens do not need to be anywhere near 60 F!

And for heaven's sake, you live in Atlanta <g>

I am not saying there might not ever be some night when you want to plug something in to take the chill off for a particular chicken that's maybe got something going on such that it isn't dealing with a particularly cold cold-snap... it is always good to have electricity for a lamp *available*. But you seriously do not need to use it routinely where you are, unless you are doing something really wrong managementwise

Not only will your chickens thank you for not overwarming them, your checkbook will too, when it comes time to pay the monthly electric bill

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Hamptons06]

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Which is why I'm the newb and you're not. I won't put the heat on unless it gets REALLY cold. Since there isn't a breeze in there, I'm sure they'll be fine.