The Poultry Keeper

sjgolden · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 3:05 am Post subject: Housing

Hi! New to your forum and new to chickens. I live in upstate New York in the U.S., (cold winters with lots of snow). We have a nice barn. The former owners must have had a small flock of chickens which they kept on the second floor of their barn, year round. It has some nice built in nesting boxes, roosting poles, etc. It is south facing. I would like to keep my chickens in this area at night, but outside by day. My question is, if I built a ramp to the second floor, (ten feet up), would they learn to use it....? My young chicks arrive next week, (6 Buff Orpingtons and 6 Americaunas).
What do you think? I look forward to everyone's input as I learn about my new chickens!

Sue

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Hi Sue, and a very warm welcome to you! You and I are the only Americans on this forum...so it is nice to have someone team up with, when they start calling us Yanks. Wink

As for your question...10 feet up seems awfully high. I would not let chicks or pullets attempt this. Is there a way that you could remove the nest boxes and other stuff and move it to a downstairs area? I would not use the upstairs area unless you are planning on keeping them locked up all day. Confused

I know this is probably not what you wanted to hear, but it seems too drastic to have them going up and down like that.

Deb

nigel · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 6:34 am Post subject:

Mine have learnt to use a ramp that goes up a couple of feet, but they do push each other off, or just fall off at times. I'd be worried if one fell from 10' that it may get hurt. They really can't fly just flap a lot.

If at all possible I'd move them to somewhere lower.

Nigel

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Hello Sue and welcome to the forum, I'm with the others, mine have a ramp 10" and can fall off that!!

CP · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 9:37 am Post subject:

Welcome to you Sue. Very Happy

I don't have any ramps, but 10' does sound a bit dangerous for them! Confused

Lisa · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 9:59 am Post subject:

Its not something that is commonly done, but I seem to remember some people (was it Hugh FW on River Cottage) having some very high chicken coops, looking like on top of poles? I think it was to help avoid predators?

I'll see if I can find any more on it later for you...

Plus if there is all the equipment already - its presumably worked for the previous owners?

My only question is - how do you get the eggs? Shocked

Oh, and welcome to the forum, btw Very Happy

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Hi Sue,

Welcome to the forum,

All the best
George

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

perhaps they lay the eggs in a little basket, which just happens to be on a trap door, which you can then open from down below and winch the basket down, collect the eggs and then send it back up.

tinacam · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 37 Location: London

Hello and welcome.

10' does sound a bit high. Mine manage to push/fall off 10". Install a lift?

Sorry, I'll get me coat!

Tina Smile

Lisa · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 9:37 pm Post subject:

Found it!

Link here to the River Cottage site

Picture at the top, description under "the ladder system"... describes it as being 2 metres high and a very rickety ladder Confused

I haven't looked - but there might be more info on their forum.

Lis

PS still not sure how Hugh gets his eggs dontknow

jaydee67 · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 9:39 pm Post subject:

I have seen a hen house on poles - not sure what magazine - it not practical poultry it was either kitchen garden or country smallholder. It had a pole ladder going up to it, not sure of the height. Sorry not to be more help, welcome to the forum!

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

so they slid down like firemen? That's a good idea, they could bring their eggs down with them in the knapsacks on their backs and leave them in the basket at the bottom

jaydee67 · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 10:46 pm Post subject:

I think the pole had rungs sticking out to the side like this:
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sjgolden · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 1:04 am Post subject: Housing

WOW! You guys are great! Very Happy

Using the lower level of my barn for chickens isn't practical at this point. It is actually a 3 story barn. The ground level is primarily for tractors/equipment. I have one area that was used to keep a small number of cows that I am presently housing several goats in and will also be home to about a dozen ducks. The second level of the barn, (accessible by stairs) has a loft for hay, a feed/storage room and a large chicken coop. I'll take some pics and post them later this week. The third story is just your basic hay loft.

I was thinking of running the ramp along the side of the barn. I could also add a tall side to the other side of the ramp to prevent falls from pushing and shoving... or I could even enclose it entirely if I put chicken wire over the top of it... Idea

Can you tell I have my heart set on using this coop?

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Putting the sides and top on sounds so much better. I like that! But how are you going to get to them if they refuse to go inside and are half way up? Confused