2nd Coop?

[ChickenLady21157]

We have 4 girls ( “ big girls” ) that are a year old now that are established, egg laying and happy with their set up. We got 5 new chicks that are in the process of being introduced ( visually and more often physically). The ”little girls” are almost to the point they can be in the run and in the coop full time. But our concern & debate is whether to get a coop for the “little girls” ? Will the new chicks automatically go in the existing coop considering the older chickens are there ? How will the older chickens behave with the new chickens in “their” coop ? We’re 1 yr into this chicken thing and have no idea. And it’s obviously the first time we have introduced old vs new. Help ! ps our existing coop is large enough to house all 9.

 

[Mrs. K]

Then keep them together. I generally provide a shelter in the run, and a safety zone in the run. I then pick up the shelter at night, usually just a dog crate or tote on its side, and put it in the coop. I let them find their own way out in the morning.

Then usually, after a few nights of doing this, I will go down a little later, and they have found their way into the coop.

If your hens are tolerating them, they will let them in the coop. You might set up a roost that is lower (there for not appealing to the higher, more important hens) and try and set it up so that a hen on a higher one can't reach the lower one. And the young girls will roost there until they begin to lay, and become part of the flock.

MRs K

 

[aart]

ps our existing coop is large enough to house all 9.

According to whom/what?
Dimensions and pics, please?
Putting up separate roosts for the newbies can really help....
...as can locking the 'old' birds out of coop so newbies can explore and get familiar on their own.

 

[ChickenLady21157]

We bought the coop for 12 chickens but only got 10 chickens last year specifically to give them the room. They all fit and were comfortable.

Maybe we'll try putting the little girls in the coop to see how they do. That's a good idea ! Thank you !

 

[aart]

ps our existing coop is large enough to house all 9.

We bought the coop for 12 chickens but only got 10 chickens last year specifically to give them the room. They all fit and were comfortable.

Maybe we'll try putting the little girls in the coop to see how they do. That's a good idea ! Thank you !

Which is it? <scratcheshead>
Really, actual dimensions are needed here...and pics.
You first flock might have been fine, but adding birds works best with extra space.

 

[ChickenLady21157]

It's not so much a question of the size of the coop. I'm confident that they would fit. The issue is about how to get the "little girls" and "big girls" to co-habitat with one coop. What have others done when introducing new chickens to the existing flock ? Is getting a 2nd coop the route to take or should we let the flock work it out? The only reason I said in my original post that the existing coop was large enough was so that particular question was crossed off the checklist, so to speak.

 

[Tre3hugger]

What size is the coop?

 

[Birdsong 82]

It's usually best to keep them separated but so they can see each while being introduced. But problems with will occur quicker if there's not enough room for them to be comfortable. If there's just enough room well they will fit is different than enough room for all of them. And I think the reason people are asking is to know which approach To suggest

 

[Mrs. K]

No need for a second coop. If they are tolerating the chicks, and they are from your first post, just get a little dog crate. Put the chicks in the dog crate and put it in the coop. The dog crate is just to move them easily.

Put the crate in the coop, open the gate. Or you can just create a Nest on the floor, I like a crate, cause where the nest fits best in my coop, is under the roost - so I don't want my chicks pooped on.

Leaving the gate open, allows the chicks to go out to the run when they want in the morning. As long as they are doing fine together in the run, they will do fine in the coop.

Do have hideouts in the run. Do have multiple feed areas, best where a bird eating at one, cannot see a bird eating at another.

Mrs K

 

[ChickenLady21157]

We've let the younger chickens out in the run with the older chickens so both groups have time adjust and get to know each other. The larger chickens have pecked at or chased the younger ones but after a bit of time, each group goes it's own way. I haven't seen any serious behavior from the big chickens to the little chickens. We do have multiple feeders and water stations. And we do have a hiding spots in the run. My thinking is that we (hubby & I) should take a watchful approach to see how the two groups will interact regarding the coop/sleeping arrangements and if need be, then we'll get a 2nd coop. I would think the younger chickens will eventually follow their natural instincts and the older chickens into the coop at night. Thanks for your tips !!