Not a coop, but a housing related question.

[Liselle]

I just moved Yolko from her guinea pig style cage with solid metal bottom (with shavings for absorbency) to a larger, older finch/keet flight cage. As you can see, it's got a wire bottom, which I love because poo drops through and makes for easier clean up. I am concerned about her feet though, but because I don't have an outside coop yet, she has to be inside and I'm limited on space and money. I am also trying to keep the area she's in (my bedroom) clean (relatively. lol ) I want her to be comfortable, and I know it's better in the larger cage, so what do you all suggest?

 

[Liselle]

I put a piece of cardboard over the grate, but now she won't come off the perch. She's terrified of the floor now. And honestly, I can't see how that can be sanitary for her to walk all in her poop. I wish I could take the grate out, but it's part of the cage, and not removable.

 

[Liselle]

And now she's on it. Lol

 

[cknkids]

I might try filling up past the wire floor with shaving to pad the feet. You might have to put something in side the cadge to keep the shaving from falling out.

 

[Liselle]

Yeah, I'm gonna have to do something. She's knocking the cardboard all around and she's crapping on it and walking in it. This DEFINITELY isn't going to work.

 

[Liselle]

I didn't solve the problem completely, but found a workable solution for very short term. A box filled with shavings that she can forage in for now. It doesn't cover the entire bottom of the cage, but definitely helps a little until I can find a more permanent solution.

 

[cknkids]

I feel your pain... 3 years ago our daughter brought 8 chicks home from school in a large cardboard box. Didn't realize what it was going to take or that we had a vacation scheduled. They ended up living in our family room on a sheet of plywood (on a tarp) in a simple hoop coop for about a month, until we had a secured house outside. Good luck! It will be worth it, though I'm wonder why just 1 chick. I've read that they're social animals and need company, we kept the 3 hens, not zoned for roosters.