1 run or 2

[MrPoet74]

I have a small flock of 11 hens ranging from buff Brahma to blue Andalusia. I also have 3 Bantum Cochin hens. I have also recently got 4 polish Bantum hens and 2 silkie hens. I also cannot forget my 3 black Cayuga hen ducks. Total of 23 birds. Tomorrow in the mail I am getting 3 seram hens and one rooster. All itty bitty adults.
My question is should I have 1 run or 2? Space isn't really to much of an issue. I can do a 250 foot run for the the full size flock and a 150 foot run separate for the baby flock and serams. Or one big nearly 400 foot o line for both flocks. I have 4 coops I can add not calculated into the footage. I would rather one coop but I am worried about all the Bantum. Especially the roo. He is less than a pound.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Is your goal to breed the serema? A sroarate flick will not only adress safety concerns (it is possible to kerp mixed flocks successfully, but it can also end badly) but would also focus his manly duties on the intended partners

 

[MrPoet74]

Breeding is a side benefit. Mostly I want to enjoy my flock. I like to sit out and watch them. That is why I wanted 1 flock. I just want the little silkies and serams to be safe.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Having 2 runs or a split run can be handy for a variety of things, like integration or confinement when you're cleaning. If you decide later on that you'd like the chickens to be together you can simply open the door between the runs so they all have use of the full space. I have my run split with raised garden beds on one side, but being able to close it off also helps preserve the grass that's over there so the chickens will always have some grass to play with.

 

[MrPoet74]

You make good points. I am kinda concerned about what happens when a 14 oz rooster tries to be a rooster to an 11lb brahma

 

[lazy gardener]

Can you put a partition in your run that can be either open or closed as the needs change? My run kind of wraps around the back and one side of the coop. I put up a partition last fall to provide a safe winter run/sun room for them. The snow slides off the coop, so one section of the run would not be safe at all in the winter. But, I could easily divide that run even more, to create a run for broody hen and babies, as well as a grow out run. All sections COULD have access to the main coop, or the back areas could be opened from the other side to provide access to the separate grow out coop.

 

[aart]

Sounds like you need multiple coops as well as multiple runs
2 might not be enough.

 

[MrPoet74]

I have 3 coops to attach to it plus a pen for the ducks.

 

[shartnett5]

I currently have a coop w a run that my brooders are headed to. I added a small coop to the side of it with a seperate run as a med bay so the birds would live near each other for future intergrating. Then built a bigger coop and run for my main flock.

Come spring I plan on building a large shed w like two barn stalls. Maybe i should call it a mini barn. And get everyone living together. Even then though, from all i learned on here, i plan on having the runs have seperation capacity. You never know what you need til you do.

 

[aart]

I have 3 coops to attach to it plus a pen for the ducks.

Yes, Sorry, missed part in your OP.

How ever you build your run(s) try to build it so you can change the sections inside the overall perimeter of run.