The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Turkeytruff]

A "housing question" for those of you that may have experience....

I am wondering if anyone has ever used a dog house, inside a kennel that is fenced on all sides and top, to house birds in the current weather.

Reason for the question is that I want to put the new boys out with the elders, but I don't want them in the same run quite yet and side 2 of my hen shed is currently occupied.  I had "Mister" using that kennel with the dog house as his only shelter...and an outdoor roost...earlier this summer.  I just don't know it it would be way to cold for just a dog house at this stage in the game. 

It isn't as secure as being locked into the hen shed either as something could presumably get under it at night - though it is enclosed by electric netting on 3 sides.  There is always the 4th side.

So...
Opinions and experiences, please.
I have been using a 10 "x10" kennel since January to house roosters, quarantine new turkeys, and provide a safe grow out cage where they can meet the flock but be fed separately. I have a large wire dog crate inside stuffed with fresh hay, tree branch roosts in 2 of the 4 corners, and bales of hay in strategic places to provide wind cover and hidey holes for them to feel secure. They love it and the whole flock like to use it as a jungle gym in between times. At night I block in the inner wire cage with pallets so they get ventilation but a racoon would not be able to get its paw in the inner cage and hook them. I have just replaced the heavy duty tarp on the roof today. I have a 2 x 1 plank holding up the Centre to help the rain to flow down the sides and it works well. I have used it in the snow in January and in the heat of the summer no problems.

af

Has anyone taken chickens on a 12 hour car ride??  We are in the process of moving to New Mexico from SoCal and will be taking our 4 hens to their new home next week.  They will be in the back of the RAV in a big plastic dog kennel on fresh shavings.  I don't really want to have water open during the trip since it may spill.

I have a heavy crockery bowl for feed, but am wondering how long they can go without water?  We stop about every 3-4 hours to let the dogs stretch, and if I put in the chick waterer at the rest stops would that be enough?  I could also put in apple halves for the trip.

If anyone has advice, please let me know!  Thanks.

Get them used to using a little pet water bottle on the sides of their cages -or a bottle with chicken nipple fixed onto the side with bungee cord? I use them for broody cages & it's a great way to keep them dry.

 

[UrbanFarmOC]

 
Has anyone taken chickens on a 12 hour car ride??  We are in the process of moving to New Mexico from SoCal and will be taking our 4 hens to their new home next week.  They will be in the back of the RAV in a big plastic dog kennel on fresh shavings.  I don't really want to have water open during the trip since it may spill.

I have a heavy crockery bowl for feed, but am wondering how long they can go without water?  We stop about every 3-4 hours to let the dogs stretch, and if I put in the chick waterer at the rest stops would that be enough?  I could also put in apple halves for the trip.

If anyone has advice, please let me know!  Thanks.

Mix the feed with water....that way they will have their moisture too.

TURK

X2

Also, you could put a nipple into the cap of a recycled water bottle and mount that to the carrier with wire or duct tape. This way they have water whenever they need and there's no spillage.

 

[Turk Raphael]

X2

Also, you could put a nipple into the cap of a recycled water bottle and mount that to the carrier with wire or duct tape. This way they have water whenever they need and there's no spillage.

That is an EXCELLENT idea! I would just besure to get them used to the syatem before the date of departure.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Anyone use ACV in the water of new chicks? I read it's supposed to go a long way to preventing pasty-butt. Comments?

 

[rowerjen]

I have. Never had a chick with a pasty butt. I also go easy on the heat lamp when I'm brooding them indoors. They're warm, but not too warm.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

I have.  Never had a chick with a pasty butt.  I also go easy on the heat lamp when I'm brooding them indoors.  They're warm, but not too warm.  

Cool beans. I'm thinking of brooding overwinter in my garage, with special provisions for the cold of course.

 

[hennible]

Anyone use ACV in the water of new chicks?  I read it's supposed to go a long way to preventing pasty-butt.  Comments?

I read ( somewhere) FF prevents pasty butt...
I wonder if chicks raised by hens don't get it because they inoculate them selfs by eating mamas poop...

 

[Lacy Blues]

I read ( somewhere) FF prevents pasty butt...
I wonder if chicks raised by hens don't get it because they inoculate them selfs by eating mamas poop...

I don't think that is the case. I lost two chicks this year for the first time ever to pasty butt. They were being raised by their mama. I never figured out what caused it. They get fermented feed. I made sure a couple times a day to go out and check butts. I don't really remember, but I think I probably added a little bit of yogurt to their feed after the first one to make sure they were getting good bacteria in their little guts. After a few days with no more issues, I stopped checking and there hasn't been an incident since.

 

[hennible]

I don't think that is the case.  I lost two chicks this year for the first time ever to pasty butt.  They were being raised by their mama.  I never figured out what caused it.  They get fermented feed.  I made sure a couple times a day to go out and check butts.  I don't really remember, but I think I probably added a little bit of yogurt to their feed after the first one to make sure they were getting good bacteria in their little guts.  After a few days with no more issues, I stopped checking and there hasn't been an incident since.

Very interesting, thank you for the info.

 

[armorfirelady]

That blasted white stuff showed up so I decided I should put the coop sides down. Everyone is molting and has bare spots so the cold & snow is def not to their liking. But with the flaps down it seemed warmer in the coop. I don't think the peepers know what to make of the white stuff falling from the sky lol

Maybe since the cold showed up their new feathers will come in quicker lol