Winter solved! **Updated**

[keljonma]

We use our laundry/mud room as an infirmary and brooder area. I'm not sure I'd want my darlings living there full time.

So I think your basement might be put to better use as an infirmary for sick and/or injured birds.

 

[EliteTempleton]

The furnace issue does not really apply to me. We heat with a vent free gas fireplace. We have a furnace but its not really used.

Ok, I've never kept any other kind of birds. So please forgive my ignorance on this, but what's the difference between keeping 3 Hens in the basement v.s. 2-3 Parrots/Parkeets/etc in the living room?

Also, I don't plan on setting up battery cages. I plan to actually build a coop area, I've got enough extra stuff laying around to do so for nearly free. Plus I would probably wrap almost all of it in landscape cloth except probably a 6" section at the top so I can still see in when I check on them. Beside this keeping my dogs from harassing them(I have the same thing around the coop they are in now) it should keep the dust fairly well contained.

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Yeah, 3, as in only 3. If I had more than 4 I would not even consider it.

No kids, your hopes have come true.

I can't speak for others but I do not feel like its a crisis, just seems like a good place to keep them.

They have a nice coop and run outside, it's even mobile so I can move them around to fresh grass and bugs weekly. I called them Hens not chicks, though really they are only pullets, but do you seriously think I don't have coop/run for them? Wow.

 

[Florida chick]

I think if you still want to have a wife and be married you will leave the birds outside!
Difference between a parakeet and a chicken... Hmmm about 100X the amount of poop!
Trust me outside is best. Birds are nasty. Maybe in a garage? Or a small building attached to your house?

 

[MissPrissy]

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You will never believe us about the dust and smell until your chickens have been inside in deep winter for 6 weeks or so.

Your wife will not be a happy woman at that time.

 

[denahli]

Nautical buoys post was ummm...harsh

Seriously its your choice. A well insulated coop will work as well and on sunnier days you can sprinkle scratch for them. I live in maine and in an insulated coop the water doesn't farely crust over at night. Plenty of bedding and if it is REALLY cold a heat bulb in a drop light would suffice. It would be cheaper to build a warmer 'fort cluck' than a place in your basement, but again it is so your choice.

the only concern I would have is respiratory illness from the dust and no air exchange. Thats really it. Good luck!!

 

[keljonma]

I was just wondering what you will do if you have to isolate one of the birds? I would NEVER criticize someone for having chickens in the house. This is what our laundry/mud room can look like at times.

Here's what it looks like this month.....

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Yeah...that was kinda harsh and uncalled for...

Well, if you won't have the furnace issue, then you've solved half the problem. If you can contain the dust, then that solves the other half. You don't realize how bad the dust is until it is coating everything. My coop is in my garage - we cornered it in. I keep it clean and I don't know where the dust comes from, but it is everywhere.

It sounds like you have a pretty good plan and with only 3 birds, it might work and they'll be very happy and warm! Good luck!

 

[denahli]

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THOSE PICS ARE FRELLIN' AWESOME. LOL I LOVE THE NESTS HERE AND THERE> I AM AMUSED!

 

[miss_thenorth]

I have to agree with the "no to the basement idea. " My coop is not insulated, I use an electric dog water bowl to keep my water from freezing, and use a heat bulb if it is really cold. I realize this doesn't solve the fact that you would have to go out to feed /collect eggs, but i think that going out would be alot better than having the health issues of keeping them in the house.

my two cents.

 

[fullhouse]

I don't have a furnace either. We have a boiler, so no air blowing up. The dander is INSANE. The smell is either of the bedding or of poo all the time. I am not a neat freak by any means, but it was layers of dust all over, the basement still has a lingering odor. I would never do it again, ever.