would this disrupt life as we know it?

[m2wandc]

~*Sweet Cheeks*~ :

I think you should build them a little preditor proof dog house type coop that the silkies could go in.

I have my 3 banties in their own dog house turned banty tractor and they go in every night and huddle together in one corner. The silkies don't roost and the cochin that would probably roost is content cuddling with the others.

It's obvious after all this time that they don't like to or can't go up the ramp.

This is how I feel too...but wondering if you think it will disrupt the current co-existing during the day in the run? ​

 

[m2wandc]

also, how did you 'make a door' for the dog house? I was thinking a small dog house in the corner would work fine...but would need to make a door somehow...if you have photos would you please share...???

 

[jen5680]

Buffy & Rocky??

I would say that Rocky might be a Rocket?!?!

 

[embkm]

To make a door, just cut a piece of wood to the size of the door opening and put it on with hinges. Make sure it has a secure latch. It's simple... trust me, if I can do it, you can do it. I wish I had pics of my dog house turned broody house, but it is too dark to go out and get some pics now.

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

I don't think you'll have any issues with seperate sleeping quarters.

This is how the dog house looked when I got it. The vent holes were too small, so I made them bigger on both sides and added a paint job and the run area.
The door slides in the tracts on the top and bottom which I love because I can open and close it without pulling the run away from the coop.

This banty coop/tractor is in my front yard, so I wanted it to be cute. I move it every morning 8' which is the length of the run, so they have fresh grass.

I was going to put the opening to the run on the end, but desided that I didn't want to have to crawl in there, so added it to the top for sun and rain protection.

I attached a bar to the door so I can slide it closed and hook on nail. I consider this means temporary until I can figure out away to lock it more securely as something strong enough to pull or push the run made out of 2 x 4's and skirted with hardware cloth that makes it a little difficult to move. Though the bar holes barely fits over the nail so it does take some giggling to line it up just right to put it on and off.

Heavy top opens on piano hinge so I can prop open to clean. Love that it opens this way.

 

[ruth]

My "trick" for getting all the little ones, some as young as two weeks, to get their little butts in the big house each night is to turn on the light in the hen house before dusk each evening. That way, the little ones are drawn to the light when it starts getting dark and will go in on their own. I have about 200 hundred chickens of all ages and breeds and don't have a problem with any of them, that sleep in the coop, going back to the coop. I do have to shoo the very young ones in the first few nights they are free because they will huddle right outside the door but I found if I use the light, they learn very quickly.

I do have several groups of older ones that sleep in various places outside of the coop and since our several big dogs keep the area immediately around the coop and house well protected (thus far), I just let them sleep where they want. One group sleeps under the carport, where the dogs sleep (smart bunch), two sleep on my backporch, one sleeps on my front porch, and group of juveniles sleep in a bush outside the hen house.

 

[m2wandc]

Wow...thanks for all the photos...good ideas in there

I suggested a smaller sleep area for the silkies and I think the thoughts are still brewing around in the hubby's head...we shall see what happens in the next week...I know picking them up and putting them to bed each night is getting old for him...LOL