Suggestions please

[Amanda0419]

I have 5 week old chicks that should be moving outside in another week. The problem is their coop isn't ready and won't be for another 4 weeks I am getting them a 10x10 dog kennel to use as their run later this week. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions what I can do with them until the coop arrives. I was thinking of letting them in the run all day and bringing them in the house at night but I'm not sure if that would cause problems with them going into the coop we get it. I'm a newbie so any thoughts or advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[techbsmith]

Couple of suggestions:

Anchor the dog kennel firmly to the ground so there's no escape chance going under the kennel. Chicks dig...depending on how many you have, you'll be amazed how fast they can dig under a dog kennel.

Use hardware cloth or at minimum 1" chicken fencing on the inside of the kennel. Chain-Link isn't really suitable for keeping small chicks in...or predators out.

Cover the kennel with something that will provide shade and reduce chances of overhead predators. Harbor Freight has mesh tarps at a great price!

They will need some sort of "coop" inside as well - it can be an old dog house or something. They need something to get in out of the elements and to roost at night. Check craigslist for used dog houses that you can easily modify with some roosting bars, a ramp, and something to cover the door/close at night to help protect them while they roost/sleep.

EDITED: That is if you want to leave them out at night - it'd probably be easier than keeping them inside. Depending on how many you have - I'm thinking at 5-6 weeks space is becoming an issue in a brooder.

I'm probably forgetting somethings - but that should help you get started.

 

[chickens really]

That will work...My Husbands favourite says is (What came first, the Chicken or the Egg? )..He always says the Coop

 

[Ridgerunner]

At that age chicks need food, water, protection from predators and protection from weather. Roosts and nests can wait. At that age in Pennsylvania they can handle your coldest weather you'll see after that kennel arrives next week.

My suggestion is that when that kennel arrives put an apron around it to stop digging predators from digging in and chickens from digging out. Take a strip or wire maybe 12" to 18" wide and attach that to the bottom of the kennel right at ground level. Hog rings work great for that or you can thread wire. Make the attachment such that nothing can squeeze through the opening. Put it on the outside of the run and overlap the corners. You don't need to bury it if you put something on it to hold it down but taking up the sod and putting it on top gets it out of the way of lawn mowers and weed eaters.

How tall is the kennel? I'd put a top on it to stop climbing predators (wire will work) but it needs to be high enough you can walk comfortably under it. That should take care of basic predator protection.

The food needs to be kept dry. At that age the only weather protection you are worried about is rain. I don't know how many chicks you have so I don't know how big it has to be but you need something that can keep food dry and keep the chicks dry. That can be two different things. The floor should be raised a bit in case it floods. Rain can blow in from the side so it needs a roof and at least three sides. That will also give them a way to get out of a strong wind.

You can make that as simple or as complex as you wish. You can make that as expensive or inexpensive (within limits) as you wish. Some of that depends on your imagination. You can probably buy something simple that works like a large plastic bin. I'd probably build something out of 2x2's and plywood. You could cover it with plastic instead if plywood if you wish. If it were me I'd put a door on it with ventilation holes up high so it lets light in so I could safely lock them up at night and I'd build it solid enough I could isolate a sick or injured chicken in it, use it to house chicks for future integration , or maybe a place to isolate a broody hen if I wished. But for your immediate purposes they just need to be able to get out of the weather.