Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[lindz8504]

Thanks Ben. It is beautiful here! I knew exactly what you meant about the trunk Lol. I have to figure out some way to quarantine those guys by the weekend. Hmm.... any suggestions for something temporary without spending a fortune?

Great news about the neighbor! Sounds like a good one! Hopefully the rest of the hatch goes well!

 

[Bens-Hens]

I guess a temp coop will vary depending what you have about and how long you are going to keep them separate.

Short term large dog crates seem to work pretty well, for,longer spells I have seen some breeders using round aviary's.

We have our little mobile coop, made from scrap floor boards and an old gate with BBQ wheels lol.


You could make something similar, I have seen some dome shaped ones made from pvc too. The expansion we just did to our run has bird netting on the roof, I have a couple of extra's that I plan to use to expand this little coop when we have more chicks.

It's not the best stuff for protection, but it does a great job an containing. a 4mx4m panel was about $6. It's designed for putting over fruit tree's to keep birds out, I figured if it keeps them out in can keep them in!

Maybe a pvc hoop house covered with the net (predator pending in your area)
http://www.bunnings.com.au/our-range/garden/landscaping/plant-protection/bird-netting

Could pay more and get the heavy duty fish net stuff like Oz uses too if you wanted something more sturdy.

 

[ozexpat]

I guess a temp coop will vary depending what you have about and how long you are going to keep them separate.

Short term large dog crates seem to work pretty well, for,longer spells I have seen some breeders using round aviary's.

We have our little mobile coop, made from scrap floor boards and an old gate with BBQ wheels lol.


You could make something similar, I have seen some dome shaped ones made from pvc too. The expansion we just did to our run has bird netting on the roof, I have a couple of extra's that I plan to use to expand this little coop when we have more chicks.

It's not the best stuff for protection, but it does a great job an containing. a 4mx4m panel was about $6. It's designed for putting over fruit tree's to keep birds out, I figured if it keeps them out in can keep them in!

Maybe a pvc hoop house covered with the net (predator pending in your area)
http://www.bunnings.com.au/our-range/garden/landscaping/plant-protection/bird-netting

Could pay more and get the heavy duty fish net stuff like Oz uses too if you wanted something more sturdy.

The stuff on my permanent coops - the heavy duty plastic chicken "wire" is about 2.5 bucks a metre in a 1.2m wide roll. Metal mesh would dissolve in a year with the onshore winds. I also have used fish netting 90m x 2.4m for $70 for making free-ish range areas 400sq m.

I wanted something stronger on the tops of the coops. I was worried that flying coconut branches in a gale would be harder on the net and i may lose chickens

 

[lindz8504]

I guess I need to quarantine them for a month or so..... I have a couple of wooden crates that I am thinking I could use as a starting point.... Plus my hubby has some boards left over from siding his building... would just need some wire to extend it some....

 

[Bens-Hens]

I think that a pretty good start point right there!

 

[lindz8504]

I think that a pretty good start point right there!

I think maybe fully enclose one end, put some kind of roof and add a roost. Nest box will have to be one on the ground. Hardware cloth on the rest.... It is about 2'x5'... will that be big enough for 3 hens for a month?

 

[Bens-Hens]

Might be a bit tight, not sure on that. Maybe have the nest box on the outside with a hole so they can't roost on top of it and it also gives them that space.

If you want to add some more floor space, you could do something like this run, https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/218467/pvc-pipe-run or something a little less weather proof https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/566261/pvc-run-need-some-advice

or you could scratch up a few pallets/skids that could be screwed together to give a few more feet. It's only for a month, 15 minutes with some pallets screws and a cordless should have a little run knocked up. Can normally find pallets in industrial area's for nothing.

I had also seen this little ripper on here which you might be able to use to make some more space.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/817880/pictures-of-my-brand-new-chicken-tunnel

It's only a month, so not like it has to be a pretty thing, just practical and cheap. Hope some of these idea's have helped out.

 

[lindz8504]

Might be a bit tight, not sure on that. Maybe have the nest box on the outside with a hole so they can't roost on top of it and it also gives them that space.

If you want to add some more floor space, you could do something like this run, https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/218467/pvc-pipe-run or something a little less weather proof https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/566261/pvc-run-need-some-advice

or you could scratch up a few pallets/skids that could be screwed together to give a few more feet. It's only for a month, 15 minutes with some pallets screws and a cordless should have a little run knocked up. Can normally find pallets in industrial area's for nothing.

I had also seen this little ripper on here which you might be able to use to make some more space.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/817880/pictures-of-my-brand-new-chicken-tunnel

It's only a month, so not like it has to be a pretty thing, just practical and cheap. Hope some of these idea's have helped out.

Wow... those look pretty easy to throw together! I will take pictures of the progress and the final product!

 

[Bens-Hens]

Cool, look forward to seeing what you knock up Have fun!

 

[Eggnog101]

I leave BYC for a while, and I come back to 41 pages :O guess I have some reading to do!