Chicken math question

[Egg Rookie 2010]

Ok so I built a coop bigger than I thought I needed. (8 x 10) and have a run 15 x 20. I ordered 15 birds. They are 3 weeks old. Well now I have 3 silkies coming. I DO have one small coop 4 x 8 that I can move over near the other cause I can see this is going to be a mushroom cloud of birds) My question is: Can I add birds in a second or third coop and just make the run bigger and let them hang out all together and then at night would they all pick an uncrowded house to sleep in and nest boxes to lay in? Do I have to build a separate run for each house? Cause that will cost more money than I have. I better see a bunch of eggs and babies to support this new habit. Im accused of being a junkie about every 10 minutes. (I love chicken tv)

 

[Egg Rookie 2010]

One more thing....I shouldnt have trouble with more than one roo if there are enough girls to go around should I? I have 16 girls and 2 roos. Do I need more girls?

 

[Crabella]

You should be fine... but depends on the roos. Most on here say about 10 hens per roo (but think that is mostly for breeding purposes). I have 13 hens and 2 roos and most of the time things are OK... once in a while there is a little chest bumping and wing flapping, but for the most part they get along. They each have a "core" group of 3 hens that seem to stay with them no matter who is dominant. 4-5 seem to hang with the most dominant, the rest with whoever has the "best" treats/yummies. One (she's at bottom of pecking order), doesn't hang with any one, just kind of on the outskirts of the flock. Having said that, most days mine are allowed to free range 2-3 hours or more if weather permits and I am going to be home. While they are out we will often see one roo eat with the flock while the other guards. I keep the roos because of the free ranging and wanting a "guard" for the girls. If they were kept in a pen all the time, I would probably not have roos at all.

I haven't added to my original flock, so cannot give an opinion on adding to yours..There are a multitude of posts on integration on here, with results ranging from "it all went so smoothly" to "OMG! they killed her/him".

Mostly, just watch your flock dynamics and act accordingly.


edited because my fingers do not want to cooperate with my mind....

 

[gryeyes]

I have several coops and they were originally all in the same run. (I have since started removing the run fencing, as the flock ranges freely.). Each new coop was for new additions that wouldn't fit into the existing coop(s). The chickens mostly return to their own coops on their own at night. I have observed coop hopping as some develop changing relationships - a new BFF, or something.

No need for separate runs except for temporary fencing during the integration period, which is removed when that time is over.

 

[WallTenters]

10 hens per roo? We run 4-5 and haven't had any issues... I agree with one of the previous posts, it really depends on the roos.

 

[Egg Rookie 2010]

Good answers....but Im telling hubby I need more girls! LMBO! It was a serious question though....hhahahahaahha

 

[gryeyes]

Massauge this information however you wish

but one rooster can easily manage a flock of 20 to 30 hens without there being any other rooster in the flock with him. Fertility might not be great with some hens, as the recommendation is 10/1 for best fertility of all.

But as for caring for flock members, one roo can rule a pretty large harem.

With the number of roosters I have, I should probably get a couple hundred more hens....