Ideas for mini coop for 2 Disabled silkies?

[sillygirl722]

Hi,
I have about 15 chickens in a coop and run, out of them We hatched out 2 silkies who can walk but have severly twisted toes. The coop is raised and they walk a tall ramp to get in and out. The 2 silkies cannot walk up or down the ramp and we have to physically put them in at night and take them down in the morning.

Here is my question, I am leaving on vacation for 8 days and my husband will be here to care for them, but sometimes he has to leave in a hurry and doesn't have time to wait around for them to come to him so he can bring them down. Does anyone have an idea as to what we can use or make for a mini coop within the run, lower to the ground so they can get in and out on thier own and he can lock them up at night for safety? I love my husband but I just don't trust him to remember to let them in and out with his crazy schedule.

 

[pixiechick]

Do you have a pet carrier? It would probably hold two little silkies, especially just for a weekend. For that matter, you could probably let them sleep in a cardboard box on its side if your run is secure. If your silkies aren't used to sleeping there, however, they probably won't go in on their own.
We once had a couple of silkies with bad feet, and they climbed a partially opened bale of hay to get into their house -- not as slippery as a ramp.

 

[cobrien]

I also have a disabled chicken who can't go up a ramp, or at least not very easily. The dog crate idea is a good one if you can weather proof it (not sure if it rains where you are). You could also look for a cheap or used small dog house, the plastic ones like the igloo style would work. You could also consider a rubbermaid bin turned upside down with a hole cut in it.

One thought - you might want to get them used to whatever you use before you leave. If my disabled chicken "special Edna" were in a situation where she was used to being carried to the house and then one day a new lower house showed up and no one brought her in to her regular house, she might still try to get into the regular house to be with the other chickens. It is possible your silkies may try and try to get into the house(they might hurt themselves in the process) that they are used to if you don't accustom them to the new one first.

Good luck and thank you for taking care of your special chickens!

Colleen

 

[sillygirl722]

Thanks for the tips!

IF I was to keep them in a large rabbit cage and have a friend take care of them like birds, Would the pecking order have to start all over again when they return to the coop after 8-9 days??

 

[Lach Cnoc Farm]

Re-introduce them at night, it should be just like normal for all of them then...like it never happened...lol

maybe my chickens are just dumber