Urgently need new set-up for my flock! Tips?

[Stephine]

Sorry you lost your home....Glad you all got out safely..
A Dog run works for me and my Ducks...Depends on what type of predators are around your area?

Best wishes.

We have all of them around on our farm, from cougar and bobcat over fox and racoon to hawks, owls, possums, rats.... I have never seen a weasel but I am sure they are out there, too...
- probably most of the usual suspects at our alternative spot, once we find one, too.

For 14 birds?.....a premade shed is the only thing I can think of...dog kennel for run but would bee modifying.

Yeah, shed and kennel... I’d have to wrap the kennel in hardware cloth... Most that I have seen have rather wide spaces around the door - I wonder how one could fix that?

 

[chickens really]

I bought my Dog run from A fencing company..Its bear proof gauge fencing with same panelled top..Its dug into the ground..Yes, you can add good gauged wire over it and lay down a skirt of wire..

 

[aart]

Yeah, shed and kennel... I’d have to wrap the kennel in hardware cloth... Most that I have seen have rather wide spaces around the door - I wonder how one could fix that?

There are some kennels that have tighter mesh and squared corners/joints instead of chain link with curved corners/joints...tho probably more costly(but maybe not considering the HC to cover gaps, not to mention 'faster').

 

[Stephine]

I am so happy to report that all my chickens are back in their own coop tonight! I am so glad to have them back. I am concerned though, that the 12 that didn’t stay with me are still quite thin and ratty looking. The two I have dragged around since the fire because they were too hurt to stay with the rest of the flock look so much better! They have put on weight and the feathers have come in so nicely, covering up all their former bald and pecked spots. I am not sure why these are still so bedraggled looking... but then maybe it shouldn’t be a big surprise because they weren’t pampered like the two I kept with me.... I feel bad!
Tomorrow there will be nutridrench for all! And some yoghurt, raisins, mealworms and sunflower seeds...
They looked quite happy to be back in their old digs... Just a few squabbles with the two from the infirmary- I didn’t have time for a proper reintegration, so I just let everyone into the run with lots of treats (which the main flock hasn’t seen in weeks) and hoped for the best. It seemed ok, just a few squawks and chases...
Anyway... so glad to have my whole flock back to care for myself and back in a safe set up!

 

[aart]

Glad they're back in good digs.
Don't go too far with the treats.
How are you?

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

So sorry about all your troubles! Terribly traumatic for all of you.
Thankful that your girls survived---it must have been a wonderful sight to see amid such devastation.
I think your main flock will recover and thrive with your wonderful love and care. You might want to check them for worms, coccidiosis. The stress must have been tremendous for them, too.
Hugs....

 

[Stephine]

Glad they're back in good digs.
Don't go too far with the treats.
How are you?

Thank you, aart! I am alright. Sliwl6 getting back my strength after getting absolutely flattened for a solid week by some flue thing that is going around here. Luckily the rest of the family handles it much better - guess who has had the most stress these last few weeks....? My hubby was out of town the night we fled and only came back 4 days later, and I guess the kids feel well taken care of...
We found (ehem, I found us) a house to rent in town, our insurance put some furniture in it and so we are good for now, while we wait for them to clean up the ash and debris on our little farm. Keeping our fingers crossed that that will happen soon - the sites are close to and uphill from a creek and the winter rains have started...
Then in the spring we are hoping to move back, in a yurt or trailer or something and start rebuilding. It will be so nice to be back. We “escaped” the town a little over five years ago and it is odd to be back (though the kids are thrilled to be able to walk and bike to friends and stores)... I told my hubby, I feel like we are in a life game of chutes and ladders....

 

[Stephine]

So sorry about all your troubles! Terribly traumatic for all of you.
Thankful that your girls survived---it must have been a wonderful sight to see amid such devastation.
I think your main flock will recover and thrive with your wonderful love and care. You might want to check them for worms, coccidiosis. The stress must have been tremendous for them, too.
Hugs....

Thank you! Yes, it was magic! And not only did the coop not burn, they also did not die from the smoke, or the lack of food and water for the next three days in 80+heat locked in their coop! I still can’t believe they made it at all...
Yeah, I’m not going to overdo the treats - just getting back in their regular feed will probably go a long way... But they do need some pampering... and the two that had stayed with me are looking great now after receiving special treatment for a few weeks... yes, I’ll check the poop board this morning and see if it looks like they need meds, too...