cluckingmad Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 HELP! Have been offered a 4ft rabbit hutch (the two tiered variety with run underneath) for £25 that U can convert to a chicken coup for 3 poorly ex-batt ladies in need of TLC, but I've got no idea if thats ok for them or what Am in a bit of a tiz as wold love to have the ex-bat girls but am having a panic that I won't be able to look after them well enough!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisdog Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 (edited) Sounds good, you will need to add perches, maybe a piece of wood with clips to fit across the wire front at night unless the bedroom bit is really secluded, and maybe a pophole or door on the hutch or run if you want them to free range. I reared some chicks under a broody bantam in a 2 foot rabbit hutch and it worked well. Edit: I meant a 3 foot one Edited October 28, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted October 28, 2008 Author Share Posted October 28, 2008 fab Thats a relief, didn't want to put the poor little things in a hutch that was far too small for them - they'll only be in there short term until they're strong enough to deal with our larger girls, then they'll all be in the cube together at night, in the run some of the day but free ranging whenever we're home (in other words, for several hours in the evening/afternoon and all day w/es!!)... got a massive run plannign for early next year, just need to save up for it first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisdog Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 Let us know how you get on with the conversion and also the new hens! The hutch/coop will come in handy for spare / hospital pen / future introductions too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted October 28, 2008 Author Share Posted October 28, 2008 now this just proves what I keep telling my other half - all chicken-mad folk think alike ;)That was how I anaged to persuade him it was a good plan, on the grounds it'll always come in handy to have a spare Poor lad, in addition to the chooks my other obsession is troical ish, so in addition to th 6t and 3ft tanks currently set up downstairs, I also have 4 spare tanks of arious sizes, in case of any sickness/new introductions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 As you're getting ex batts I wouldn't worry about a perch if it was me. Mine just slept on the floor of my coop and ignored the perch for a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 HI. I think its great that you are rescuing some ex batts. I used a converted 2 story rabbit hutch with run underneath for my 3 ex batts. I attached a sheet of wood to the wired door, so it was more enclosed and altered the ramp so it was less steep and actually went around the corner. However, when I got them, I found that I needed to do more emergency changes as the ramp was still far too difficult for them to manage. It was really upsetting as they were so wobbly on their legs and they kept falling off the ramp. I adapted it so that the house sat on the ground, level with the run part. Luckily I had some spare weldmesh to cover the part of the run where the house used to sit. It was quite easy to do and Id really recommend you do this, in case yours find it difficult too. My ex batts have also always ignored perches! Good luck with it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted October 28, 2008 Author Share Posted October 28, 2008 thanks for the tips everyone Will keep you posted on how things go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
