Breeding pen ideas - Looking for opinions from breeders

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

Hello everyone. I'm planning on building a couple of new coops soon and want some opinions from experienced breeders before I get started. I currently only have one breed, RIR, that I am planning on breeding, but there are a few more breeds I have my eyes on for the future. So, I want to build these pens with the future expansion of my breeding program in mind. I've been thinking it over a lot, and I seem to have a good plan, but I'm not sure if all the different pens are a bit excessive, so I'd like all your opinions!
Current coop: Our current chicken coop is about 730 sq ft, and currently has 60 hens and 5 roosters. I don't plan on keeping my breeding hens in here, but it could act as a backup housing option if needed. It will also serve as a retirement space for hens and special roosters. These chickens are all free range.
Breeding coops: I plan to start with two of these, 6 x 6 ft each. They will be up off the ground with large runs attached. There will be max 10 chickens in there, probably less. They will only be kept in there during the breeding season/warmer months. As I expand, I plan to build more of these.
Winter coop: We have long, very snowy and cold winters where I live, and I also live on a hill, so add an absolutely horrible wind chill on top of that, and it can be quite miserable. That being said, I don't want to leave them in the breeding coops year-round as I don't feel they would be protected enough. Also, I have no way to get power out there easily, so I would have to deal with multiple frozen waterers. I have space in our old cow barn to build a large coop to keep them over the winter. I would also have easy access to power for a heated waterer. This coop would be 12 ft wide, and I could go as long as I want. I'm currently thinking maybe 30-40 ft. It would primarily be used just for hens during the non-breeding season. I might keep some hens in there year-round that I am not currently using. They'd have access to a large outdoor fenced-in area.
Brooder/growout pen: I'd like to have a large brooder that can be sectioned off and can grow with the chicks. I'm imagining it split into 4 sections. I'd start with just one section, and as the chicks grow, I'd remove the dividers. I'd like it big enough that I could raise different sets of chicks in it at once as well. I'm not exactly sure how I want to build this yet, so if anyone has done something similar, I'd love to see pictures! I'd also like it to be connected to the winter coop, so the chicks and adults can see each other to make later introductions easier. Over the winter months, when I'm not raising any chicks, I'd like to design the brooder so that I can use it as part of the winter coop.
Roo coop: This coop would be for all of my roosters. Primarily a growout pen for before they are sold or butchered, but will also house my breeding roos. I still need to put more thought into where and how I want to build this.
Individual/pair pens: I'm planning to build these as 2 x 3, or maybe 3 x 3, or 4? They would be used for breeding when I want to know the exact parentage. They could also serve as isolation pens for sick/injured chickens and extra brooders if needed. I plan to start with four, I'm thinking they would be stacked, two on the bottom and two on top. I can easily add more if needed.
So, I guess my main questions are: What would you build? Does this sound like a good plan? Anything you would change? I know I'm probably overthinking this, but with the amount of time/money I will be putting into it, I want to build something that works well!
TLDR: Breeders, what is your ideal coop setup?

 

[febane]

Hello everyone. I'm planning on building a couple of new coops soon and want some opinions from experienced breeders before I get started. I currently only have one breed, RIR, that I am planning on breeding, but there are a few more breeds I have my eyes on for the future. So, I want to build these pens with the future expansion of my breeding program in mind. I've been thinking it over a lot, and I seem to have a good plan, but I'm not sure if all the different pens are a bit excessive, so I'd like all your opinions!
Current coop: Our current chicken coop is about 730 sq ft, and currently has 60 hens and 5 roosters. I don't plan on keeping my breeding hens in here, but it could act as a backup housing option if needed CNN News. It will also serve as a retirement space for hens and special roosters. These chickens are all free range.
Breeding coops: I plan to start with two of these, 6 x 6 ft each. They will be up off the ground with large runs attached. There will be max 10 chickens in there, probably less. They will only be kept in there during the breeding season/warmer months. As I expand, I plan to build more of these.
Winter coop: We have long, very snowy and cold winters where I live, and I also live on a hill, so add an absolutely horrible wind chill on top of that, and it can be quite miserable. That being said, I don't want to leave them in the breeding coops year-round as I don't feel they would be protected enough. Also, I have no way to get power out there easily, so I would have to deal with multiple frozen waterers. I have space in our old cow barn to build a large coop to keep them over the winter. I would also have easy access to power for a heated waterer. This coop would be 12 ft wide, and I could go as long as I want. I'm currently thinking maybe 30-40 ft. It would primarily be used just for hens during the non-breeding season. I might keep some hens in there year-round that I am not currently using. They'd have access to a large outdoor fenced-in area.
Brooder/growout pen: I'd like to have a large brooder that can be sectioned off and can grow with the chicks. I'm imagining it split into 4 sections. I'd start with just one section, and as the chicks grow, I'd remove the dividers. I'd like it big enough that I could raise different sets of chicks in it at once as well. I'm not exactly sure how I want to build this yet, so if anyone has done something similar, I'd love to see pictures! I'd also like it to be connected to the winter coop, so the chicks and adults can see each other to make later introductions easier. Over the winter months, when I'm not raising any chicks, I'd like to design the brooder so that I can use it as part of the winter coop.
Roo coop: This coop would be for all of my roosters. Primarily a growout pen for before they are sold or butchered, but will also house my breeding roos. I still need to put more thought into where and how I want to build this.
Individual/pair pens: I'm planning to build these as 2 x 3, or maybe 3 x 3, or 4? They would be used for breeding when I want to know the exact parentage. They could also serve as isolation pens for sick/injured chickens and extra brooders if needed. I plan to start with four, I'm thinking they would be stacked, two on the bottom and two on top. I can easily add more if needed.
So, I guess my main questions are: What would you build? Does this sound like a good plan? Anything you would change? I know I'm probably overthinking this, but with the amount of time/money I will be putting into it, I want to build something that works well!
TLDR: Breeders, what is your ideal coop setup?

Hello. Do you have any good pen designs they could send me? We have plenty of space. Just looking for a good design to start off with a few, and add more at a later date.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

Hello. Do you have any good pen designs they could send me? We have plenty of space. Just looking for a good design to start off with a few, and add more at a later date.

I don't, unfortunately. My current coop is built into our old cow barn, and I haven't planned out the new ones I want to build yet. I just have the picture in my head.
Are you planning on building breeding pens? Or just a regular chicken coop?

 

[Ted Brown]

I am ahead of you but not by much.

Six years with a flock, 5 or 6 random hatches by incubator. I have an integrated coop/covered run sized for 40 birds; now populated by 27, hens only; pop door open 24/7. Four separate cages for roos, 11 total of 3 breeds (Chanteclers my focus & largest group, 2 distinct family groups; Barred Rock; Black Copper Maran); will reduce to 6 keepers for controlled breeding. I do not free range, too many predators and now avian flu; less exposure to mites and other pests. I do not bring other chickens into the group as I am now self sufficient re maintaining/increasing my flock. Took me 5 years to get to this point and made many mistakes.

I separated hens from roos last fall, got tired of the ruckus and damage caused by a combined flock. Massive difference in calmness and the ladies now have all their feathers. Cannot encourage separation enough.

My roo cages are temporary. I am building a 14'x16' pole shed and a large 8'x8'x6'(H) bachelor pad that can be divided in two 4'x8'x6' to give a second breeding cage to be used for a couple of months early spring; 6' high to allow easy walk in. My smaller cages will also go into the pole shed to be used for isolation, brooding, observation, etc.. Also for feed & other chicken tools & bits. Directly adjacent to the coop/run so I can consolidate from my garage and reduce the back and forth.

Electricity everywhere as I live with serious winters and don't much like frozen water multiple times per day.

Most of my ideas came from BYC and from the breeder I got my Chanteclers from. He is a small but very serious production breeder, hatches 100+ per year using four separate family groups. Focused on improving his Chantecler gene pool while contributing to the maintenance of the breed in Quebec where they were developed.

I did not directly answer your questions but thought my approach and setup might give food for thought. More than happy to answer/discuss.

One last bit. I recently read of using ground thermal to prevent water from freezing in the winter. A bit of work to install but basically a 4' hole in the ground using vertical plastic culvert plus an insulated top box with a large rubber farm water dish in the centre. A very simple variant of a heat pump; I will experiment either this year or next. Not having to go through $50 heated plastic waters that fail or break nor having to spend to heat is very appealing!

Go for it! Best of luck.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

I am ahead of you but not by much.

Six years with a flock, 5 or 6 random hatches by incubator. I have a integrated coop/covered run sized for 40 birds; now populated by 27, hens only; pop door open 24/7. Four separate cages for roos, 11 total of 3 breeds (Chanteclers my focus & largest group, 2 distinct family groups; Barred Rock; Black Copper Maran); will reduce to 6 keepers for controlled breeding. I do not free range, too many predators and now avian flu; less exposure to mites and other pests. I do not bring other chickens into the group as I am now self sufficient re maintaining/increasing my flock. Took me 5 years to get to this point and made many mistakes.

I separated hens from roos last fall, got tired of the ruckus and damage caused by a combined flock. Massive difference in calmness and the ladies now have all their feathers. Cannot encourage separation enough.

My roo cages are temporary. I am building a 14'x16' pole shed and a large 8'x8'x6'(H) bachelor pad that can be divided in two 4'x8'x6' to give a second breeding cage to be used for a couple of months early spring; 6' high to allow easy walk in. My smaller cages will also go into the pole shed to be used for isolation, brooding, observation, etc.. Also for feed & other chicken tools & bits. Directly adjacent to the coop/run so I can consolidate from my garage and reduce the back and forth.

Electricity everywhere as I live with serious winters and don't much like frozen water multiple times per day.

Most of my ideas came from BYC and from the breeder I got my Chanteclers from. He is a small but very serious production breeder, hatches 100+ per year using four separate family groups. Focused on improving his Chantecler gene pool while contributing to the maintenance of the breed in Quebec where they were developed.

I did not directly answer your questions but thought my approach and setup might give food for thought. More than happy to answer/discuss.

One last bit. I recently read of using ground thermal to prevent water from freezing in the winter. A bit of work to install but basically a 4' hole in the ground using vertical plastic culvert plus an insulated top box with a large rubber farm water dish in the centre. A very simple variant of a heat pump; I will experiment either this year or next. Not having to go through $50 heated plastic waters that fail or break nor having to spend to heat is very appealing!

Go for it! Best of luck.

Thanks for the reply! It sounds like you have a pretty similar setup to what I've been thinking. Do you have any issues with your roosters not getting along when you're moving them in and out of the bachelor pen? If they're being rotated and moved around a lot, I'm a bit worried that they would never settle into a pecking order and always be in that "first introduction" stage.

 

[Ted Brown]

I have not yet moved them in/out.

In my largest pen I have 7 Chantecler roos in a too small space, occasional squabbles but no injuries so far. My selected lead rooster and a recently acquired 2nd gene pool addition are alone in separate cages, I did not want to take chances given how many other Chant males I have; have yet to figure out integration but at that point will be down to three Chant roos + 1 Barred Rock and 1 Maran to be housed in a much larger space.

As to in/out that is one of the reasons for a large space that can be divided by a HC panel. The best way to integrate is look but no touch and that setup accommodates that approach.

I have had my concepts decided for about a year but building out the spaces to accomplish them is a major undertaking as you no doubt know.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

I have not yet moved them in/out.

In my largest pen I have 7 Chantecler roos in a too small space, occasional squabbles but no injuries so far. My selected lead rooster and a recently acquired 2nd gene pool addition are alone in separate cages, I did not want to take chances given how many other Chant males I have; have yet to figure out integration but at that point will be down to three Chant roos + 1 Barred Rock and 1 Maran to be housed in a much larger space.

As to in/out that is one of the reasons for a large space that can be divided by a HC panel. The best way to integrate is look but no touch and that setup accommodates that approach.

I have had my concepts decided for about a year but building out the spaces to accomplish them is a major undertaking as you no doubt know.

An easy way to separate the roosters is a good idea. I'm thinking I'll go as big as I can for their coop, then have multiple ways to section it off. The more I think about this, the more work I make for myself!

 

[Ted Brown]

My hope is that I do not have to separate the 6 roos. I have had 7 in a much smaller space for ~months with no real conflicts.

Perhaps design a method to install partitions and build the main enclosure such that they can be easily installed after the fact? Test your design to make sure it works.

I have grandiose ideas but then get bogged down in the execution. Sometimes works out but often does not. If you can keep it simple to begin, execute quickly and get a result you will find yourself more motivated to take a next step.

Also, you will make mistakes! Better it is in a small step than 3/4 of the way through a big project.

I commend that you are wise enough to ask for input and are willing to actually listen. I often read posts of some who ask for input then ignores and carries on with what they dreamed up in the first place.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

My hope is that I do not have to separate the 6 roos. I have had 7 in a much smaller space for ~months with no real conflicts.

Perhaps design a method to install partitions and build the main enclosure such that they can be easily installed after the fact? Test your design to make sure it works.

I have grandiose ideas but then get bogged down in the execution. Sometimes works out but often does not. If you can keep it simple to begin, execute quickly and get a result you will find yourself more motivated to take a next step.

Also, you will make mistakes! Better it is in a small step than 3/4 of the way through a big project.

I commend that you are wise enough to ask for input and are willing to actually listen. I often read posts of some who ask for input then ignores and carries on with what they dreamed up in the first place.

Yeah, I'm the same way. There are lots of big ideas in my head, and then I struggle to actually make them a reality. I have to figure out how I'm going to do the different sections, as I want to do something similar for the brooder. I want to keep it as simple as possible.
And thank you. I always try to learn from the pros before I do something, so I can save the time/effort/money that comes with making beginner's mistakes. I've only ever bred my backyard mix chickens, so I have a lot to learn.