what can i use as a pen for the babies?

[aubreynoramarie]

I want to start letting the little ones go outside for an hour or say a day. Feel the grass, chase bugs, eat dirt- you know- kid stuff.

but i am racking my brain for something i could use to contain them that would be portable and easy to store/ put up/ take down when not in use. I do not want this thing in my backyard perminently, only when the babies are out.


so to get an idea of what i was thinking- i was going to buy a used child's play pen and just flip it over and put the chicks inside. the downfall to this would be
1) the bottom of the playpen would nlock the sunlight from getting to the babies and keeping them warm
2) it would be really hard to grab the babies to take them out. I think id have to crawl into it. (sheesh!)

what do you use as temporary chick-keep-in-ers?

 

[clairabean]

I have used a retrofitted crib. Flipped it upside down, re-enforced the corners, and added wire to the top. The problem was getting them out. I had to flip the crib over and collect them form the grass. But, it was free.

 

[SLWyandotte]

i use 3 spare pieces of tin leaned against each other and held up with odds and ends in the yard. lawn chairs, push mower, grill, ect. the 4th wall is the run fence. gives them a 10'X10' area to run and play. it doesn't have a top so i supervise, but i suspose you could put some netting over it to keep out critters and the chicks in.

 

[Break an Egg]

If it's just for an hour, let them on the ground, you won't need a pen, they will all stay together, and they won't go far. Maybe you can set a large flower pot or rubbermaid tub on it's side and they can run in there if they feel the need to.

 

[ruthless]

Dog exercise pen, comes in different heights, is metal, portable and folds down on itself. Usually made up of 8 panels each 24" wide. You can adjust the size and throw tarp or blanket over the top.

 

[CherBru]

Quote:
This idea my work for me as we are building our coop and came across more free tin than we need! It's suppose to be in the 80's today so I'm sure they'll love it. Thanks for the ideas!

 

[packmomma]

I use a dog crate. I used to raise boxers so I have a 3 ft x 4ft dog crate. My chicks go from tote brooder, to dog crate until fully feathered and then to the Youth section of my coop. I like the dog crate because since they are in it when it starts to get warm, my hubby and I take out the food and water in hte house, lift it and carry it outside, pull out the bottom tray of shavings and let them eat the grass, no chances for escapes because we never have to open it outside. We take the tray back in if its windy then slide it back in when done and carry it back into the house! The openings on the bottom are larger squares so they can still scratch around and find bugs. Dog crates are easy to come by on freecycle or craigslist, and are affordable if you want to buy one. When the chicks are not using it we fold it up and store it out in our lean-to attached to the chicken coop. If a chicken needs to be in the house for some reason, sick or injured, we can easily fold it back open and bring it in. The size I have will easily handle a hen and will hold about 12 chicks until feathered. I put a sheet down on the floor set the dog crate on it and wrap the sheet up the sides and hold with clothespins. This keeps the shavings from spilling out plus gives privacy.

 

[Bi0s]

something like this work perfect i say http://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Black-Exercise-Pen-Inches/dp/B000H904WI

 

[rainierlass]

Check Craigslist for dog exercise pens - that is what i used -

 

[krcote]

Quote:
yep!