Urgent! I Need Advice On How To Get Two Free-range Hens and a Rooster In a Dog Kennel!

[poultryprofessor]

@poultryprofessor was working on updating these for her university (not sure if that project has finished):
http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/ASC/ASC189/ASC189.pdf

These are handy if you like some detailed instructions.

It's still going through the process of being official. I can provide the draft upon request - just can't post it publicly yet.

 

[Kaddi143]

So, this happened. I'm heartbroken and just sick to my stomach. I have free-range birds. Originally, six hens and one cocky rooster named Rocky (barred rock, seemed fitting). I live in the woods and this is my first time with birds, but my husband has had several flocks in the past. I never expected to get this attached to my birds, but I sure have. We have a carport attached to our house that we don't use and we have a huge ladder in the corner that we were using to get in the attic. The birds have been roosting on it from day one. It's in the corner closest to our kitchen. We can actually look out one of our kitchen windows and a window in the living room and they're right there. So far we haven't had too many issues with predators. The occasional stray dog has come into our yard, but we've been able to chase them off. Until this past week. I had one hen disappear only later to find her with her head missing. I Googled everything I could, and ultimately decided to let them keep roosting where they were but just keep a closer eye on them. Rifle and shotgun at the ready. That was my fault. I should've known that whatever it was would be back and although I'm up at least once a hour all night long, predators always seem to come when you're not looking. However, I assumed there would at least be a noise of some kind to alert me. Nothing. I had two girls literally disappear. Not a peep out of anyone, not even my rooster. So, last night I kept all the lights on. I kept the front door open and I was right there cleaning in the kitchen. I went to put my kids down to bed, came back out and now all that was left was my one white hen. Even my rooster was gone. No sound, nothing. After walking the property I found one hen and brought her to the front porch. The next morning my white hen was gone, but my rooster emerged with the last two of hens. We now know it was a great horned owl. I feel horribly guilty for all this. I knew better than to think these birds could free-range out here without any kind of coop or run, but my husband really wanted the birds to have a chance to just be birds without being all cooped up (he's had cooped up birds and said it was really depressing). I must say, it's been a wonderful experience to have these birds. I've always been kind of scared of birds, and I didn't think I would like having chickens, other than the eggs of course, little did I know. They are so fun and peaceful to watch around the yard. They've given me so much, I almost don't even care about the eggs. Almost. So, now here is my problem. I know the owl will be back tonight. And, the next night. And, the night after that. All I have is a really large dog kennel. All I can think of is to get the birds into the kennel tonight and at least they'd be safe from the owl. The hens should be easy enough, but Rocky is going to be quite the challenge. I have no clue how to do this! I could wait until they've roosted and then try to grab Rocky?! Or, I can leave a trail of their favorite treats into the kennel?! Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, in advance for any suggestions.

 

[Kaddi143]

I use meal worms. I feed a few handfuls in the coop nightly before dusk!!! They run to get inside and I lock the gate!

 

[Krugerrand]

My current build in progress is copying @21hens-incharge 's cover technique:

I did lose a ton of pics in the last upgrade BYC did.

My hoop run and coop it is attached to.
View attachment 2236621
Plastic installed for winter protection.
View attachment 2236622
Shade cloth on for summer. This reminds me to run out and add a second layer for added depth of shade.
View attachment 2236627
This past November. We had 2+' of snow.

I use clips from greenhousemegastore.com.
https://www.greenhousemegastore.com/snap-clamps-sn--sc
When I bought mine they had 4 sticks really cheap. I am bummed they went to precut.
They do have ones for EMT in sticks still. It may be something to think about if going that route.
I zip tied 1/2" pvc sticks to the cattle panels to keep my plastic off the wire and give a place to clip to.
It is tall enough my hubs at 6'3 can stand upright in it.

The PVC garden hoops are great to add netting to to keep flea beetles off the crops too. I would never trust them for structure in winter especially for a chicken run. Just way to flimsy.

Edited to add:
Yes I used chicken wire. I am in town and do have raccoons and fox.
I also have BIG dogs.
I lock the birds in the coops EVERY night. Then I double check when I take the dogs out at 10pm.

I'm not building a base frame, but using steel t-posts to hold it in place. Blooie has one like that. I can dig out the links, if you like. But, since you are putting this in a barn, that may not be practical.

I'd suggest thinking long term ... if you think you might want to do something more permanent later, I'd go simple and inexpensive. These can be rather easily converted to a gardening green house or trellis, if you like down the road. Google can guide you on those.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I like thinking long term.

Hoop coop in the barn and as a hoop coop tractor in the future....

 

[21hens-incharge]

My current build in progress is copying @21hens-incharge 's cover technique:



I'm not building a base frame, but using steel t-posts to hold it in place. Blooie has one like that. I can dig out the links, if you like. But, since you are putting this in a barn, that may not be practical.

I'd suggest thinking long term ... if you think you might want to do something more permanent later, I'd go simple and inexpensive. These can be rather easily converted to a gardening green house or trellis, if you like down the road. Google can guide you on those.

You must have book marked it! Thank you for liking it enough to do that.

 

[McChooky]

I entirely agree. I have said from day one that the chickens needed a safer spot to sleep. He figured the birds were safe up on a ladder in the carport right next to the house. I have never felt confident about it, though. He has had birds before and kept assuring me that getting birds into a coop every night is a daunting task. They don't like it and are very reluctant to go. Plus, he keeps telling me that there's no such thing as a truly secure coop and/or run so we might as well let them happy while we're here. I see his point, but I just can't let my birds be a wild critter buffet. And, even though I'm very limited by funds I imagine I can build or purchase something that would be sufficient. I told myself after this I just couldn't have birds anymore. But, now I just can't imagine life without them.

Unfortunately if your husband is against putting the birds in a secure coop at night he may not help you construct one.Some people use large dog kennels and covered them with hardware cloth and tarps.

 

[Kaddi143]

Unfortunately if your husband is against putting the birds in a secure coop at night he may not help you construct one.Some people use large dog kennels and covered them with hardware cloth and tarps.

I found a large kennel on marketplace put chicken wire around and over top and tarped half from rain with a coop inside. I built a roof frame from 1x2 and bought roofing pvc similar to tin roofing and bolted to frame. I raised them in the coop and they go to roost every evening so I just lock the gate. In am I let them out clean pen and water. If you allow them to open roost it is a matter of time before they will be picked off.

 

[Snakebiteholloway]

So, this happened. I'm heartbroken and just sick to my stomach. I have free-range birds. Originally, six hens and one cocky rooster named Rocky (barred rock, seemed fitting). I live in the woods and this is my first time with birds, but my husband has had several flocks in the past. I never expected to get this attached to my birds, but I sure have. We have a carport attached to our house that we don't use and we have a huge ladder in the corner that we were using to get in the attic. The birds have been roosting on it from day one. It's in the corner closest to our kitchen. We can actually look out one of our kitchen windows and a window in the living room and they're right there. So far we haven't had too many issues with predators. The occasional stray dog has come into our yard, but we've been able to chase them off. Until this past week. I had one hen disappear only later to find her with her head missing. I Googled everything I could, and ultimately decided to let them keep roosting where they were but just keep a closer eye on them. Rifle and shotgun at the ready. That was my fault. I should've known that whatever it was would be back and although I'm up at least once a hour all night long, predators always seem to come when you're not looking. However, I assumed there would at least be a noise of some kind to alert me. Nothing. I had two girls literally disappear. Not a peep out of anyone, not even my rooster. So, last night I kept all the lights on. I kept the front door open and I was right there cleaning in the kitchen. I went to put my kids down to bed, came back out and now all that was left was my one white hen. Even my rooster was gone. No sound, nothing. After walking the property I found one hen and brought her to the front porch. The next morning my white hen was gone, but my rooster emerged with the last two of hens. We now know it was a great horned owl. I feel horribly guilty for all this. I knew better than to think these birds could free-range out here without any kind of coop or run, but my husband really wanted the birds to have a chance to just be birds without being all cooped up (he's had cooped up birds and said it was really depressing). I must say, it's been a wonderful experience to have these birds. I've always been kind of scared of birds, and I didn't think I would like having chickens, other than the eggs of course, little did I know. They are so fun and peaceful to watch around the yard. They've given me so much, I almost don't even care about the eggs. Almost. So, now here is my problem. I know the owl will be back tonight. And, the next night. And, the night after that. All I have is a really large dog kennel. All I can think of is to get the birds into the kennel tonight and at least they'd be safe from the owl. The hens should be easy enough, but Rocky is going to be quite the challenge. I have no clue how to do this! I could wait until they've roosted and then try to grab Rocky?! Or, I can leave a trail of their favorite treats into the kennel?! Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, in advance for any suggestions.

I have a big bass net. Lol. Works like a charm if you can get close enough. I'm still pretty quick for an old lady, kinda scares the birds but some cornbread and petting calms them right down.