Curious to see others' ideas for temporary enclosures for quarantined new birds

[brettzim]

I currently have 20 birds in my coop (14 hens, 1 Bantam rooster, 1 turkey, 2 ducks w/ 2 ducklings in tow). Four of my hens seem to either have better things to do than lay eggs or are just aged out. I'd like to get 6(ish) more young hens to make up for the drop in egg production. I have a 24x20 coop and run, half enclosed fully and half a fenced-in outdoor run. The indoor portion is only 10x12 though because it is divided between the coop area and a place for feed (and a mama duck with her two little ones). Previously, when I have gotten new chickens I have just sorta cowboyed the situation like we always did growing up. I would let all the hens out loose and throw the news ones in the mix so that could escape if picked on. It always seemed to work out without anyone getting beat up too bad. However, I am a little older and wiser and understand the importance of quarantining new birds. My only question is how do I make sure those birds have an equally safe space to spend a whole month without spending the same amount of cash I did to create my current (Fort Knox) chicken coop? If anyone has creative ideas for separating their flock while still protecting both groups equally from the weather/predators, I'd love to hear them! Thanks in advance.

 

[SA Farm]

For my separate pen, I have a dog house with a door on it surrounded by 4ft chicken wire. Mostly I use it for chicks that are growing up, but it's cheap and easy (especially if you find/get a free dog house). The only problem is that it can be a little difficult to clean.

edit: I also use a small dog crate for temporary housing. Super easy to clean, you can get them fairly cheap second hand, the only downside is they can be rather small - suitable for two birds at best. I use a cardboard box with shavings/straw for the bird to sleep in if it's going to be in there overnight.

 

[loveourbirds]

the top is a work in progress, its a new bird/sick bird quarantine hut. the top, back, sides, and dividers are covered in wire. tomorrow im putting doors on the front (if the rain lets me). I plan on leaving it open in the bottom so I can move it like a tractor.
cost of this pen using sawmill lumber is about $35 covering it with a tarp. (use silver tarp if you go this route)



i have several of these that i separate birds in. its 3x3 feet. good for a pair of LF or 4 or so bantams. again i left the floor out so the birds could graze. cost of this pen buying all new materials is about $25

 

[bjones1128]

This is very interesting. Everyone should probably have a quarantine pen for sick/new/injured birds, however, I would take a wild guess and say that many or most of us don't have one. I am very interested in seeing people's ideas as I think this should be next on my list... so thanks for asking! Hopefully we will get lots of ideas.

 

[appps]

Well dark here so can't get a photo but mine cost me about $30 all up.

We had a small pool fence area that holds a blow up pool in summer. Pool is gone so I got some plastic gutter guard and wove it through the pool fence so they couldn't get out
through the gaps. That's the run.
Oh and a kite spotted them and started hanging round so I got some bird netting and strung over the top.

Then I went to the salvos second hand store and bought a second hand cabinet for $10.
We added a latch and voila one coop.

It's not waterproof so I strung a $2.00 tarp over the top but it only had to last a month in the weather anyway.

They move up with the others tomorrow so it did its job

 

[brettzim]

Thank you for your ideas! These are all helpful. I like the simplicity of the 2x4s and chicken wire that just sits on the ground. I do worry though that at night a raccoon could reach through and pull a chicken to him for snacking on. I may do something like that though and put in our fenced in yard for the dogs. That way, if a predator tries to come the dogs will let him have it. Throw a piece of plywood on top and it's one fancy little hen house

 

[loveourbirds]

we have 4 dogs, the barking helps keep coon away and other animals for that matter. a man's urine around the temp pens will also help keep coon away. but must be reapplied after a rain.

if your living in town, be careful about peeing around the pens, neighbors might give you a weird look. (I always do it after dark)