I am building a coop and run for spring chicks. The place I want to build it is close to my neighbor's small flock (8 hens 1 roo - Barrred Rocks). Will having the two flocks close together cause any issues (if I end up with a rooster will they constantly crow at each other?). I am aware of the possible disease transmission due to the close proximity but am asking about behaviour type problems. Thanks
I have a closed flock, and two properties down a neighbor has free-rangers. Occasionally they wander in, or a local ring neck pheasant named Bluster will dance for my hens. I suspect him of making one broody! But because of the hardware cloth on the run and the topography of our land I can manage all right. I wouldn't have wanted to free-range my birds anyway and his will be gone before winter because of predation. Ahem . I do treat my perimeters vigorously with food-grade diatomaceous earth to keep lice and mites from these and wild birds out of my run.
i think you would have problems. i have several small flocks, some standards and two different bantam groups. i let them out to free-range when i am there to supervise, but on alternate occasions - big girls one day, little girls the next day. Every single time i have a group out, there are always one or more that go up to the cage of enclosed chickens and pick a fight. Hackles flared, bouncing up and down, acting like fools - and i have all hens. i personally think having two groups housed within eyeshot would be bad for their stress levels.
They will be about 50 feet apart - both confined so that is as close as they will be able to get - within sight/hearing/smell but no physical interaction or contact.
