As a general rule, bare minimum of 1 sqft of ventilation per bird. And more is better. Vents should be above the roost so wind can't blow through and ruffle their feathers while they sleep.
As a general rule, bare minimum of 1 sqft of ventilation per bird. And more is better. Vents should be above the roost so wind can't blow through and ruffle their feathers while they sleep.
I'm sorry they don't like it. You obviously did a lot of hard work to build that nice enclosure. Too bad they don't understand that you're just trying to give them a nice home. It's like how people bring out fresh clean water to their birds every day, but they'd rather just drink out of a puddle on the ground.
Oh, and I looked at your pics again and I have one other thought. It looks like it would be kind of hard for them to get in there. They'd have to jump from rung to rung on that ladder to get into the house. Maybe try making a solid ramp for them to walk up? My babies had a solid ramp, but they refused to use it until I added dowels for extra traction.
As a general rule, bare minimum of 1 sqft of ventilation per bird. And more is better. Vents should be above the roost so wind can't blow through and ruffle their feathers while they sleep.
I'm sorry they don't like it. You obviously did a lot of hard work to build that nice enclosure. Too bad they don't understand that you're just trying to give them a nice home. It's like how people bring out fresh clean water to their birds every day, but they'd rather just drink out of a puddle on the ground.
Oh, and I looked at your pics again and I have one other thought. It looks like it would be kind of hard for them to get in there. They'd have to jump from rung to rung on that ladder to get into the house. Maybe try making a solid ramp for them to walk up? My babies had a solid ramp, but they refused to use it until I added dowels for extra traction. They'd literally stay in the coop all day long and poke their heads out the door, but they wouldn't go onto the ramp at all. They came out the very first day after I added the dowels.
I know it's tempting to just say screw it, but a prefab coop is RARELY the answer. The only reason I don't say "never" the answer is because you have so few birds. Are you really only going to have 2 forever? I can look through some prefabs and try to find one that would suit your needs. Here are some basic guidelines for you though in the meantime:
Hi There.
Well if you do not mind me telling you, if it is only 2 hens you have, and
do not want any more, at this time, then leave them in the coop you have built.
Considering you have built it yourself, there is plenty of space, for your 2 girls.
If i was you, all you need to do, is like you said, just cut more vents out, and the
ladder you have, leading up to it, the rungs are to wide apart. If you place more rungs,
in it, even from behind, and fill it in that way. Your girls will start to use it, in time.
They have probably tried already, but they do not feel safe walking up. Honestly, i
cannot believe you are thinking buying the coops on your pics. Please keep your
money, as look at the top pic coop, and the run with that, compared to yours. The
coop underneath, you said you would buy, and prop it up, from the floor. Do you mean,
you would take, the one you made out, and place that inside, the run. ??? Or would
you place it totally somewhere else. The reason, i am asking, is because 5yrs ago, we
had 3 coops like the one on bottom pic. We had 16 hens, they were on top of the garden
every night they were locked in, without fail, 7yrs we had them. And they were let out
in morning.My daughter called over, and we were chatting ect. I forgot to lock them all
up. And yes, next morning, feathers everywhere, bodies it was horrific. Yes, a fox wiped
them all out, there was a 6ft wall, at the top of our garden. He got over and got in the 3 coops. Our girls were all over the place, and where they were heavy girls, he could not
climb and get back over. So that was it. We never knew we even had foxes so near, as
we live in a village. What a mess, i was heartbroken. Took me 5yrs this March, before
i would have any more. Then my husband and boys, built a 2 story top + bottom
coop, with a huge outside run. (Like yours) very much the same. Plus enclosed roof.
Yes FOX PROOF, also brought it further down the garden. I still have guilt for not locking them up that night.
We have 12 girls now, 6 on top 6 on bottom, my girls every night, walk up their ladder.
Then the 6 on bottom, also walks up theirs. But, BETTY DOREEN + MAGGIE waits
on the ladder, until they see me + my son, coming. Then off to bed they go. lol
Like i said, do not waste your money, unless you have the bottom coop, and place
it inside, yours. But you may need to take the other one out. ( I would"nt i would fix,
ladder, and also remove your roosting bars out, as well. Only until they are used to
using the ladder, which they will. Because they will learn, that is the only place, they can
get to a height. Is up that one ladder. lol Even though ours is fox proof, we still lock
them in, every night, i guess cause we learned the hard way. Never want to go through
that again. You came on here for advice, not to be told your coop is to small ect.
Keep your girls safe, your last message is telling you the same. Do not waste your
money, my coops was the same design as the pic, on bottom. But a lot bigger, as i
had 16 hens and 3 of them coops, did serve their purpose. It was my fault, that night.
But now when i lock them up, i tell myself, yeh Mr Fox, you can try but you will not win,
again. And i feel assured they are safe which makes me feel so much better too. So
what i am trying to say, is your coop is lovely, solid and defo fox proof. lol Do what
you think is best especially for your girls, and you too.
