I renovated our almost antique dog house for the Bantams. The dog house was built
for a Golden, That Crazy Czar, CDX; however, nary a dog ever set foot in the dog house,
they all slept inside our house with us. So, I'm really excited to finally put the house to
use for animals, a dear friend built it, as a gift for me, and I've always loved it.
This photo is titled: We are family!!!
This message was edited Mar 31, 2006 9:34 AM
These are our 6 new baby chicks, two Silkies(?) and 4 Bantams. The white ones look like Poodles, lacking in head, with too much leg, and poor grooming. They are all very sweet and growing like weeds.
This is the inside of the Chickie Condo, it's very comfortable for our growing family.
They started laying eggs before the house was complete, we don't have a clue how they knew we were building it for them, but they did!
Another photo of the interior...
Yet another view...
Nightly parade. Rooster, Chicken Little, goes in first, I guess to make sure all is safe. Then the Big Biddy waddles up, followed by Sweet Girl. All this time Chicken Little is giving directions, and Little Hen, the gray chick, and last to go inside, makes her grand finale, and things settle way down, and it's my turn to close the dutch doors and place the latter against them, for added security. Then, they begin to softly chirp and chatter until the fall asleep...they are fun chickens!!
Those are some cool chicks Sherry. They love their new digs!
Sidney
That is a great looking bantyshak!
Loved the first picture with the kitty - he is very entertained!
My cat is very similar looking
Rj
Do the chickens ring that bell when they are hungry?
What a neat place for your hens.. Just wonderful.. and everything looks so clean and dry..
That is so neat. They look right at home. Love the cat!
What sweet guys you all are, thank you so very much!!! The banties pushed us out of the house while we were renovating it, how they knew it was theirs is a mystery. Now, the big chickens are a different story, we built the a pad today and roosts and will put them in it tonight, they have previously been renting a tree and the hens lay their eggs on the ground, even tho we have nests for them. Do you think that if we put them in the pad for several nights that they will take to it the way the banties have?? I guess only time will tell...
How big are the nests? If they're large enough (and they look it) they will probably start laying there soon. You could leave a few wooden or plastic eggs in each to give them the idea.
Great setup. So cozy. You have some lucky chickens!
My Grandma used to leave a light bulb in the nest.
Thanks, Zep!! I have two sets of chickens. Mine are Bantams - hubby's mom's are regular sized and I've added three adult hens, in order to make the rooster/hen ratio better. All the hens, regular and batnies are laying. The banties lay in nests, the regular hens prefer the ground. They have properly sized nests but they lay on the ground - so, we have the reg sized chickens in/on a pad, with roosts tonight for the first time. We will see and I will report our 'findings', hopefully eggs, in nests, lol!!!
Sherry, they are so pretty! I love the chicken condo too. What a great idea! I'm sitting here now, wishing I would have saved all the shovel handles I have broken. LOL Is the condo inside another building or fenced in the yard? I'm always gathering ideas. ;) Of course it is much warmer there so I am assuming I see privace fence?
billyporter, I put a golf ball in the nesting box at first to give them the idea where I want them to lay. It worked. They were sitting on it. lol Never thought about a light bulb. That was probably easier to come by back in those days. The pastel colored plastic Easter eggs work too. I filled mine with mud so they would be heavier.
Sherry, that's an Awesome set up. What a cool use for an unused dog house. Perfect. Wish I had your creativity. You should have some very contented chickens.
The hen house is inside a very large side yard with a 6 foot wood fence. It's divided into sections, one for banties, one large one for regular sized chickens and a small area for our 6 babies. Our Bantam rooster is full of personality and himself and he tends to every detail in his setup, nothing gets past him.
The Bantams need zero to get them to lay, they were laying in the house while we were building the house, with the saw whirling, they would all but push us outta the way to get in a nest. The big chickens are laying in the yard, without a nest. I want to stop that and if I ever have the time, I'm going to work on some nesting boxes for them. They don't seem to care where they lay, so maybe they will adjust to nests.
Thank you for your posts, I'm really having fun with the chickens, they are so easy, and fun!! It is just so funny to see them come running for their treats, they are just like a litter of puppies...
I know. They are such fun. I love to just sit and watch mine. They are so comical. I could just watch them for hours on end. DH thinks I'm crazy. He can't figure out what is so interesting about chickens. Actually, I can't really put my finger on it either. But I'd rather sit and watch them for an hour than waste an hour watching some of the garbage on TV.
I found another couple of chicken sites that you might enjoy:
http://www.arkansastreasures.net
http://www.backyardchickens.com/index.html
PeggieK, have you seen any of the chicken cams? They're for weirdos like us who just like to sit around and watch chickens. Until cable gets a Chicken Channel, anyway.
great sites, sherry.
Thanks, I love the sites, seems like I learn something new from each one. I've ordered fertilizer from the Arky site and plan to try their fertilizer recipe, with my own, home grown ingredients, haha...
DH might just freak if I order the Chicken Channel. hehe.
I already watch the Ag. channel and all the gardening shows I can find.
Chicken channel ? Sweeeeeeet ! Let me know if you hear of it. lol
What a CUTE coop! :))
Peggy, laughs over the mud filled egg!
Zeppy, bigger laughs over the cams and chicken channel!
My daughter's chicken house started to go up Sunday, till the sky turned green. Baby chancileers April 19th.
My earliest memory (age 2) was going across the road with Mom to feed the chickens. I also remember the baby chicks. We lived in town, but across the road, it was country. Dad's barn still stands and the chicken house is still there. It's converted and enlarged into a garage/tinker shop.
This message was edited Apr 3, 2006 6:50 PM
Sherry what are the dimensions of your coop and how many bantams do you feel it can comfortable hold? I need to make soemthing like that.
Thanks for any info. :)
Cottage, it is approx 4 x 5, maybe a little larger, and it's 2 storied. It was built as a dog house, and built way too large for our Goldens, none of whom ever put a paw in it. We already have 6 new chicks and if we don't have enough space (but according to some building instructions, we will) - we will add on, which will be rather easy. In fact, we can attach our 'baby pen' to the coop, all it will take is a small door, and then it will look like a house with a porch attached...then they will have an outside area, if they like...my main reason for building a house it to give them protection from varmints and the weather...thus far, nighttime is the only time they go inside, they like it outside, when it rains, bath time, I guess...
I love the size of your chicken condo, I want to raise some silkies and that would be a good size. I have a large coop up on our hill for my bigger girls, but I want a smaller coop closer to the house for my new silkies, that's if they hatch. So far it only looks like 3 out of eight are growing.
Thanks Sherry! :)
wow, so sorry i haven't had time to read this thread.
i just love the condo, and those banty eggs look good too!!!
great job Sherry, and congrats on your cute new chickies!!!
tf
Sherry, we made a chicken tractor out of our doghouse (about the same size). Best idea we ever had. Don't you love not wasting something like that?
Zep, it took me about 25 years to find the right project for the dog house, which I did NOT want it was a custom made gift, if you can believe that. My Goldens are house dogs. I did spend big bucks on kennel runs, only time they were ever used is when I picked up a rescue dog that needed to be isolated, or a guest brought a doggie that didn't behave, my Goldens didn't even know it was ours. Now, the run is a lounge area re the cement pond, and it's just super...oh, and I stained it terra cotta...
Sunday - May 21, 2006
Sherry,
I LOVE your "low income housing" for your chickies!! Very cool!
I am in the process of designing (my) very first chicken coop and was wondering if I could "pick your brain" a little.
Here's some background info, first...
Knowing that I have always wanted to have chickens, this last Mother's Day our two daughters gave me (2) 1 week old Ameraucana chicks! When I uncovered my eyes and saw them, I screamed "Ahhh, my chickens!!!" To say that I was excited is an understatement! Well, a few days later, a friend surprised me with (4) 4 week old Silkie chicks and (2) 4 week old Rhode Island Red chicks.
My husband is taking this well.... so far. (We were both raised in the city, and now live in the country. It's our version of the TV show, "Green Acres".) Anyways, considering that I don't know the first thing about chickens - other than I know one when I see one, I am trying to learn as much as I can about chickens as fast as I can, which brings me to my questions for you. I would really appreciate your help!!!
1. Could you please tell me the exact dimensions of your nests that your Silkies use? How tall, wide, deep, and high off the ground?
2. How high off the ground do Silkies like their roosts?
3. Can Silkies (live with) the RI Reds, together in the same coop? Can they live with other standard breeds also?
4. Will I have a problem with standard Roosters trying to breed with Silkie hens - and visa versa?
5. How many roosters (can) I have in my coop? I still don't know how many "boys and girls" I have - the chicks are still too young to tell.
6. I would appreciate any "words of wisdom" you may have where standard and Silkie chickens are concerned. Just so you know, I live in Michigan where it's quite cold in the winter.
Thanks for your help Sherry. I really appreciate it!
Glenda
A used 4' X 8' shipping crate would make a nice sized 'shed' for small chickens if it is laid down on its side. Good for larger ones if left on end. A couple of them fastened together would make a nice large shed for a dozen or so birds. You might want one on its side for the banties and one on its end for the regular chickens. But the banties will live just fine with the standard size chickens if there is plenty of room for everyone. We have done it before and had no problems. Right now we house a few dozen pigeons, about 15 banties, 2 goose hens, 5 duck hens, 1 guinea hen and 1 peacock together in one 8' X 11' or so building. The pigeons, guinea hen, the peacock(when he goes in)and some of the banties roost in the rafters and the rest of the banties and duck and geese occupy the lower part of the building. We have regular fancy metal nests as well as some overturned boxes and one overturned large garbage can that got one side melted out. They use them all.
Those silkies look as tho they might have some Turken or Naked Neck in them. Any possibility or just that stage of growth? Are there both standard size and bantum Silkies?
I need to go lock up. A varmit got some of the poultry the last time we were too late or didn't lock up.
Glenda, thanks, I will attempt to answer your question, please remember I'm a novice.
1. Could you please tell me the exact dimensions of your nests that your Silkies use? How tall, wide, deep, and high off the ground?
My 2 silkies are still dorky babies, they lodge with 3 Sultans, 1 American Modern mix, three 'wild' Bantams, inside a chain link covered 'yard', that is about 12 feet x 12 feet. We have a raised crate, approx 2 feet off the ground and we have 13 peeps that are almost one month old. The juveniles (Silkies/Sultans, etc) are allowed to roam with the adult Bantam rooster and three hens. Today, we closed the pen gate on the juvies, and allowed the 13 peeps out in the 12 x 12 pen. Life is good, they all love the 'freedom' and have learned to climb the ladder back into the crate, and, wonder of wonders, after they take a turn, they fly out the front.
2. How high off the ground do Silkies like their roosts?
The Silkies have a number of daytime roosts, all about 12 off the ground. The Silkies use the roosts least of all the others and, at night, they mound up and all nine of the juvies sleep in a box with hay, which has a top, they love it and look really cute.
3. Can Silkies (live with) the RI Reds, together in the same coop? Can they live with other standard breeds also?
We only have RIR mixes and they are the only chickens we don't like, they will be rehomed, I like a harmonious living and the RIRs don't fit the bill; however, they get along with the adult Bantams, they just 'hate' the juvies and peeps, I don't like the constant fear that someone will be hurt.
4. Will I have a problem with standard Roosters trying to breed with Silkie hens - and visa versa?
If they are together, yes, you will have a problem, I have my standards and Bantams separated, but i do think there was a RIR in the woodpile, we have one Big Red peep in our 1 month olds. It looks so out of place and is our favorite.
5. How many roosters (can) I have in my coop? I still don't know how many "boys and girls" I have - the chicks are still too young to tell.
I'm told 1 rooster to 8 to 15 hens. Yes, I thought 15 was a very high number, but that is what I was told. I have one standard rooster with 6 hens none of which to be very productive, not sure where the problem is. Right now, I have 4 Bantam hens to one rooster, and it's a perfect match, but will be adding more juvies as they mature.
6. I would appreciate any "words of wisdom" you may have where standard and Silkie chickens are concerned. Just so you know, I live in Michigan where it's quite cold in the winter.
I prefer Bantams all the way round, friendly and easy keepers. My Silkies are the least friendly of all but the RIRs, but the Silkies are not mean, but don't push them. I like the wild Banties and the Sultans best of all, so endearing, sweet, smart, funny, very friendly, tho the wild ones have to warm up, which is why I had some bred, so we could start them as babies.
I just don't have the cold you have so there is no way for me to answer your question about the cold - it has never been too cold or too wet or too hot for the chicks here. When we first got Little Hen, our original wild Bantam, she slept in the top of a tree and when the wind blew, which it did frequently, and the branches turned icy, she refused to retreat. Then she fell in love with the Bantam rooster and they moved in the cottage above and she has given up the tree for true love, and they sleep in the same nest each night, she is the first wife, and Big Biddy and Baby Biddy, 2nd and 3rd wife, sleep in their own private bedrooms, right down the hall. They are all fun and i hope you have as much fun with yours as I do, everyone loves them. Good Luck!!!
Thanks Sherry! I sure appreciate your help and insight! I'll keep your reply in my "chickens" file for future reference. You've been a big help!
I've already fallen in love with my chicks, especially the two my girls gave me - Lucy & Ethel (my girls named them).
The whole group runs to greet me when they hear my voice.
...Life is good!
Blessings,
Glenda
Sunday - June 4, 2006
Does anyone know (how steep) of a ramp can a Silkie walk up to get into the coop?? My ramp will have the little wooden ladder rungs to give them something to grip onto as they make the climb.
My wonderful husband is building me a coop and that's one detail that I don't have the answer to.
Thanks for any help you can give!! ~:>
:) Glenda
My Silkies are just like my other chickens and they walk up what ever I used to get them up. Sometimes, I use a piece of wooden lattice. I have some tine Bantams and some very young chicks and they all get up the ladders and roosts with no trouble. The house in the photos above are about 24 -28 inches off the ground...
