Indoor Coop/Cage for Bantam House Chickens?

[Freeholder]

I'm considering building a large, multi-level cage in the living room for a few Bantams to entertain my mentally handicapped DD. I would use rabbit wire to build it, have a tray under the bottom for easy cleaning, and I think I'd wrap the lower portion with clear plastic to keep stuff from being kicked out all over the floor of the house. Any other ideas? How would you do this if you were going to keep a few small chickens in the house? (I really don't think it will be much worse than a few traditional caged birds, and probably a lot quieter than keeping a parrot or something like that!)

Kathleen

ETA: The space I have available is about two feet by four feet, and it's seven feet from floor to ceiling (we have low ceilings). With several levels in the coop, I thought we could keep maybe five little hens.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

is there any breathing issues? i think i would add an air cleaner for the dander and maybe some plexi-glass and start a little smaller, 3 maybe

 

[Freeholder]

No, no breathing issues; I don't think I'd even consider having any kind of birds in the house if we had breathing issues. I was considering plexiglass, but it's expensive. I'll have to check on prices (and watch for scraps and left-overs).

Thanks!

Kathleen

 

[Scifisarah]

I am looking into getting one of those big tv armoire/cabinets and converting it to a small chicken coop. I agree that you might want to start smaller with maybe 3 instead of 5. Sure you can make multiple levels, but the chickens and whatever is below will get pooped on. Seramas would be good breed - small and nice and friendly. Here are a few examples I found:

Something like this with two doors on the top, and shelves below for supplies. I would take the panels out of the doors and put hardware cloth over them instead.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

i have such a cabinet they look really cute and i think 3 seremas would be awesome.! i would recommend some type of slide out plastic tray on the bottom for ease of cleaning . a lot of furniture made today is pressed wood that you wouldn't scrub much before it started peeling. and a few inches up the sides. maybe thats where the plexi would come in handy, on the sides. a large bird cage may make a small run for them. pictures please!

 

[Scifisarah]

i have such a cabinet they look really cute and i think 3 seremas would be awesome.! i would recommend some type of slide out plastic tray on the bottom for ease of cleaning . a lot of furniture made today is pressed wood that you wouldn't scrub much before it started peeling. and a few inches up the sides. maybe thats where the plexi would come in handy, on the sides. a large bird cage may make a small run for them. pictures please!

I agree, the pressed wood wouldn't hold up well. If you go to Menards or whatever big hardware type store you have, you can buy large sheets of cheap white plastic material made for lining shower stalls. I would caulk that into the bottom and up the sides to make it water tight. I wish I could have chickens in the house, but I am allergic to them and dust, so I have to wear a mask when I am cleaning my coops outdoors.