Dilemma....Input, Please... *well, that didn't exactly work*

[speckledhen]

I knew you were.

 

[gjensen]

Option 2
Next, a coop built for the bantams so that you have room for next years expansion, lol.

 

[Cetawin]

Leave it to me to solve it...option #4

In 2 weeks move Rex and his girls into Suede's coop because it will ne vacant after I pick him and his.girls up...the 2 weeks is to have a Suede coop and run built.

. Then when Rex is old enough move Becca Amanda and panda and etc in with Rex

Yay I solved it. I would fear Ike and Rex together. Or I can have 2 coops built and put Ike in one with his own women. I got 18 of them to split between Ike and Lancelot, the Suedenator comes with women. Muahahaha


As to the other options ... Gonna have to think on it

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
Well, the kids growing out are in the bantam coop. They just need to move out of there, then there will be 7 D'Anvers and one Silver Phoenix left, plus Shadow, the Princess banty Cochin who will show those little roosters who is boss, I'm sure.


See? Ask Cetawin and she solves the problem by removing all excess roosters from the premises, LOL!

 

[they'reHISchickens]

Isn't every integration solved by building another coop?
Worse than chicken math.

 

[speckledhen]

they'reHISchickens :

Isn't every integration solved by building another coop?
Worse than chicken math.

Yep, it's terrible. Actually, I just sold my little Firetower coop and eventually, the divided coop will be torn down after Suede has passed on to that Great Roost in the Sky in favor of a nice storage barn in another location (no chickens allowed in there). At least that's the plan, but you know, all chicken plans are subject to change.​

 

[PepsNick]

Good luck Cyn! I know you'll make the right choice.

 

[speckledhen]

Hey, there, Nick!

 

[Cetawin]

Seriously, if you can keep Ike away from Suede's wrath, put him in the old ladies area, put the old gals in the bantam Coop and toss the princess in there too. Then the main flock can have Rex. Or divide the main coop and pen in half, give Rex and BR girls the addition half...Ike does not like the barred rock girls so he should not antagonize Rex through a fence ... Suede wants to kill Ike so them side by side could be problemtic.

 

[speckledhen]

Decision has been made. Basically, we have decided on Option #2. I am working on creating a more opaque barrier on the divider fence between Suede's pen and what will be Isaac's pen.

Rex will have 23 hens, including all the Barred Rocks and the two Delawares (they pick at Ike's wattles and I'm afraid in a smaller space, they'll be even worse about it) and Nugget will be returned to the main flock as well, since I'd like her to be with the two younger Buff Orps. Eventually, they'll probably pal around together, if my experience is any indicator.

Isaac will be moved to the former old hens' coop and will have the two big Brahma hens, Tiny the half blind Ameraucana/Sumatra who can see the big white rooster quite well, June the EE who roosts next to Ike every night and keeps Tiny in line and Emily, the black Rock who goes broody once a quarter yet never finishes the time period to hatch an egg and who is low on the pecking order like Tiny is. So, Isaac will have 5 hens in a nice variety which he seems to prefer to his own Del girls.

In the bantam coop will be the 7 D'Anvers, including the 4 little roosters, Molly the standard Silver Phoenix, Shadow the banty Cochin terror and Reba and Sunny, the two oldest flock members who are going on six years old and are no longer laying. We'll probably lose them both before the end of the year and I'd rather not have them with a big rooster to hassle them. I think they can handle the tiny roosters with no problem and this coop has no steep ramp for them to negotiate.

Thanks to everyone who gave me great input! I'll update when the switch has been made in a couple of weeks. Should be interesting to put Rex and his 8 young ladies in with the main group and watch the fireworks.