Chicken’s Choice?

[SilkieMitch]

I know that size of coop is important. My 15 chickens free range all day, and they have two coops for night time—one small one that was built for the five Silkies (3.5x4 ft with a 4x5 enclosed, predator proof run underneath that they can enter anytime) and one 8x8 coop with no run (but they are only in it at night).

All the chickens happily enter the coops themselves in the evenings, and I close them in. Problem?

All the Silkies AND 7 of the big chickens like the smaller coop. Only three of the big chickens sleep in the big coop. So when I wake up, I get the joy of seeing 12 chickens all waiting to welcome the day squished into the 4x5 run beneath the small coop, 7 of which is are 14 weeks old full size chickens (the Silkies are already full grown).

Imagine how it will look when when the “big chickens” are full grown!

My mistake was definitely that those 7 “big chickens” started in the small coop when they first were moved from the brooder, because I hoped it would help them feel more secure. The three that sleep in the big coop started in the big coop.

I have tried removing them from the small coop at night and making them sleep in the big coop, but it’s not helped. And the 7 “big” chickens are still too small at 14 weeks for me to make a door only the Silkies can fit through.

so my question is: Should I just let it go, let it be “chicken’s choice” where they want to sleep? (They are very aware they big coop is an option, as they will go in there during the day sometimes to munch or drink, and it’s right by the silkie coop!). Or should I try locking them into the big coop for 3 days or so (I feel so bad doing that since they are used to free ranging all day!) and hoping they imprint it as their new “home”?

Honestly, I’m at a loss! Help!

 

[nuthatched]

As long as they're secure at night, i wouldn't worry about it, does the silkie coop have a low roost that they can jump up on to? Silkies are about as aerodynamic as a coconut.

 

[SilkieMitch]

As long as they're secure at night, i wouldn't worry about it, does the silkie coop have a low roost that they can jump up on to? Silkies are about as aerodynamic as a coconut.

It does, but they prefer to cuddle in a pile Against one wall. No clue why, since they have a low roost!

 

[black_cat]

Silkies are about as aerodynamic as a coconut.

I just died

 

[black_cat]

The concern is that as the big birds get older, you want them to roost and if the silkies are under the roosts at all, they will be pooped on. I think that if you're concerned about that, I would train the 'big' chickens for the big coop. If you ever have to keep them cooped for a long period of time (e.g. natural disasters etc) you may want to separate them so that they have some room to breathe and properly exist while they're cooped up. Other than those reasons I don't see why you wouldn't want to let them choose.

 

[black_cat]

It does, but they prefer to cuddle in a pile Against one wall. No clue why, since they have a low roost!

You may want to roost train them so that they're not sleeping in their own poop. At night just pick 'em up and put them on the roost-they're too sleepy to resist. All it took was one night for mine to take to it, but for some it takes a bit longer.

 

[SilkieMitch]

The concern is that as the big birds get older, you want them to roost and if the silkies are under the roosts at all, they will be pooped on. I think that if you're concerned about that, I would train the 'big' chickens for the big coop. If you ever have to keep them cooped for a long period of time (e.g. natural disasters etc) you may want to separate them so that they have some room to breathe and properly exist while they're cooped up. Other than those reasons I don't see why you wouldn't want to let them choose.

The“big” birds all already roost on the back roost in the silkie coop (there is are two ), and though the Silkies aren’t directly under them, I do worry about that. I will try setting the Silkies on the front roost.