Brand new chicken owner

I live in Lousisana and have gone chciken crazy quickly. My husband came home from work a couple of weeks ago with a baby chick that was running around his work. After a week or so we added what was supposed to be a couple chicks to 12 plus a guinea hen. I am unsure what Henny Penny is but we have one Australorp, 6 yellow sexlinks, 3 Rhode Island reds and 3 Welsummers. We built an A-frame coop that is 8' x 5' and half of the upper section has a floor for them to stay during the night. I know we will need to expand soon. We moved the food and water to the ground so they would spend more time in the sun and running around. Last night they spent the whole night in the grass and didn't go up. Do I need to put them up each night? Or will they figure out to go back upstairs? I'm completely new to all of this and am learning as I go. I read other threads and think I'm doing this all wrong. Do we need a roost area for all chickens? Do we not worry about nesting boxes until they get ready to lay or go ahead and give them boxes to sleep in? I think I'm overwhelming myself with too many questions and so many different answers.

an 8' by 5' i do not think would be sutable unless it is move at least every two days. Get roosts before the nestboxes. They will get used to the roosts and hopefully keep the nest boxes clean for egg laying. Yes, try to put them up until they go on own. Try when putting up put chick on stairs about halfway up and see if they go. If not do it yourself. And Welcome To BackYardChickens.com

James has given you good advice, so I will just say Welcome to Backyard chickens.

Greetings from Kansas and ! Great to have you aboard! Best wishes and I hope you enjoy BYC!

I have watched each and they can make it up the ladder.
Why would we need to move the coop? I know that adding on will be a must. I'm starting to think that we need to add something more than just continuing on with the A-frame design.
The upper section is about 2 feet from ground, would that be to high to add roosts for the little ones?
Thank you for any and all advice.

gypsyldy77 said:

I have watched each and they can make it up the ladder.
Why would we need to move the coop? I know that adding on will be a must. I'm starting to think that we need to add something more than just continuing on with the A-frame design.
The upper section is about 2 feet from ground, would that be to high to add roosts for the little ones?
Thank you for any and all advice.

Click to expand...

13 full grown chickens to be in an 8by5 pen is hardly suitable for 5 unless moved. You should try putting wheels on it to make it easier to move. The pen should be moved at least every two days to save your grass and to give the chickens best nutrients.

gypsyldy77 said:

I have watched each and they can make it up the ladder.
Why would we need to move the coop? I know that adding on will be a must. I'm starting to think that we need to add something more than just continuing on with the A-frame design.
The upper section is about 2 feet from ground, would that be to high to add roosts for the little ones?
Thank you for any and all advice.

Click to expand...

Depends on how old. If they have wings and are at least 2 months they should be able to make it. Otherwise they will probaly sleep in bedding until they can fly to the roosts.

The 8 x 5 was built for a the couple chickens we planned on getting and then came home with 12 and the guinea.
I am hoping to make them free range. So I don't think know I'll have to move the coop. Waiting for them to get big enough to fend off the dog who wants to play with them. My sweet dog loved making new friends and has been whimpering wanting to play with Henny Penny.

The other fun part is we don't know how many hens and roosters we have.

Hello there, and welcome to Backyard chickens! You have gotten great advice already, so I will just say hi!