rescuing some Bantams.. advice? :)

[Ginevive]

Hey. This is my first post.

I have recently rescued three bantam hens from a very unsavory life. They were taken from a suspected fighting house in the inner city.. long story short. I am proud and happy to be making my country home a place where they can live out their days

Now here are my questions about their living situations. I did not bring them home yet; a friend of mine is holding them at his place. They are safe there, but it is not the best situation either; they are in a converted parrot cage! But I built what I think it a good place for them now at home; a box roughly 6 foot square. I enclosed it with chicken wire and it is out in my horse barn in an out-of-the-way spot. Its frame is 2x4s and it is very secure; predators cannot get in, nor are there any hles where chickens can escape.
I figured, I did not want to overwhelm them with a huge area just yet. They were in horrifically tiny caging at their former "home." I planend this to be a step up to an outdoor run we have; it is in need of repair (mostly overgrown weeds) and I need to 'cap" it off with wire as it used to just be a goat run and thus is open-topped. So does this all sound good? I have many other animals and know the importance of researching everything beforehand.. I have two horses (have bred foals before..) I also breed ball pythons (snakes) and am incubating a dozen eggs from them in a similar method as to how you would incubate your chicken eggs!
Here is a photo of one of the hens.

 

[justusnak]

Wow, what a beautifull hen? Roo? Cant tell because the comb is so torn up. The poor things. Im so glad you are rescueing them, GOOD JOB!! Sounds like you have a perfect set up for them. Good idea to not overwhelm them with too much space to start out. I sure hope they warm up to you, and I know they will enjoy life. CONGRATS~!

 

[BeckyLa]

Welcome to BYC!!!

It's so wonderful when chickens are rescued and placed in a safe comfortable home! First, chicken wire will only keep chickens in, it will not keep preditors out. So any critter, coon, possum, dog, that can find a way into your barn can get through the wire on your cage and kill the trapped birds. If your cage was made of something stronger, like hardware cloth and 2x4's it would be far stronger. You say the run you are moving them into is a goat pen. What kind of wire does it have? Does it have a building you can enclose and make a safe place to lock your birds up at night? These are just a couple of things for you to consider as you make a home for those unfortunate birds. Also, are you giving them a good grower or layer feed? So many people think you can feed them only scratch or corn, but these are not balanced nutrition which your birds need. Have you had chickens before? I don't mean to overwhelm you, only help. Too many folks get chickens and have no idea how to care for them. Like I said, Welcome to BYC!! Please feel free to ask any questions. I hope we see you often!!!

 

[Ginevive]

I wonder if I could double/triple up the CWire? I know that I was concerned with the other stuff; its gaps were very big and I could easily see a farm rat or ermine slipping through that. I might be able to wire 2-3 layers of CWire together and stregthen it? Or I could salvage some of the larger-holed yet heavier stuff from the former goat pen (It was not used since well before we moved here in 2003, but the wire looks brand-new and is solid.. so solidly built that I am not going to be able to remove it without big wire cutters!)
I am antsy now because I have to wait until Monday night to get them. They are in the worst part of Buffalo, and my fiancee does not work there until mon. and I can not go there safely myself! But all in all, at least they are in a safe cage and being fed/watered and above all, away from the lowlife loser who "owned" them before.
There is a very slight chance that we might let the guy keep them (he raises other ones for eggs and meat.. from the old country, yet does this in the city!) If so, I still plan to bring some chickens into our lives soon. My friend has a bunch at her place and her logic is "if you want to go catch a few, then put them in the back of your truck and take them home"

 

[lacyloo]

welcome

 

[CtlisencedArborist]

A beautiful rescue......I never recommend just chicken wire.One by one welded wire works for me.I double up on some of the floors outside with double chix,so the stinkin badgers dont creep in the AO.....lol...and alot of big rocks along the perimeter......I also recently installed outside sensor lights......but start with the wire...lol