Double coop?

[horsehoundhouse]

We recently got six chicks (TSC minimum) but planned on only keeping 3-4. We bought a small coop kit that would be fine for 3-4 but now I'm thinking of keeping them all. Could we get another kit and connect the two runs or should I really try to get one bigger coop?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Which kit did you get? What does it look like? Any links with photo and information?

What you are proposing might very well work. It doesn’t matter if the space is in the coop, cop and run, or some other method. What matters is total space and when it is available. Depending on what they look like, you might be able to set one up as a roost area and the other could be for egg laying.

You might want to follow the link in my signature about space. It might help especially with how you plan to manage them.

Many of the coops you buy prebuilt or even kits are fairly flimsy and aren’t always really suitable. That’s why I’d like to see what you are getting. Maybe some of us can come up with suggestions as to whether it is suitable or how you might be able to make it work.

 

[horsehoundhouse]

Here's the coop:

http://www.precisionpet.com/detail.aspx?ID=191

We also got a 4.5x2' extension pen that connects and were planning to have that between the coops.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I could not get the Specifications to open upon your link or when I went to their main website, but that looks a whole lot like this one that someone posted a few says ago.

http://www.aosom.com/d-409/Pawhut-O...e-w-Run.html?gclid=CMXV-5TEkb0CFcuSfgodG08AvA

You can see my comments on that one in this thread. The only difference I can see in the general design is that the roof doesn’t look like it opens but I don’t know the size of yours.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/862872/how-is-this-coop#post_13018927

It’s hard to get too specific when I can’t get the specs to open. I think it will can work for you to set it up the way you are talking about if it is the same size as this one. You have enough roost space and enough nests. That extension should give you enough room along with the two coops.

One thing you don’t have is enough room to leave them locked in one of those coops. You’ll have to commit to either not lock them in the coop at night and trust that run to stop predators or commit to being out there every day at daybreak to open the coop door.

One thing I’d really worry about is that it does look flimsy. There may be a good reason the first thing excluded in their warrantee is damage from animals trying to get inside and eat the pets in that.

 

[horsehoundhouse]

Thank you so much for the thorough response. The idea was to close them up in both coops each night (try to get three in each coop) but I wasn't sure if they would like being separated. I do feed the horses at 6am every morning so it wouldn't be an issue to get them out before daybreak.

The coop definitely isn't ideal, but we thought of it as a starter coop for a few chickens. The more I'm thinking about it, the more I'm thinking of just taking it back and building a sturdier coop. Hindsight is definitely 20/20!

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you can take it back, I'd definitely do that. I think you can build a much better one.

 

[JanetS]

Looks way too small for 6 chickens. Bigger is better.

 

[Sonya9]

Thank you so much for the thorough response. The idea was to close them up in both coops each night (try to get three in each coop) but I wasn't sure if they would like being separated. I do feed the horses at 6am every morning so it wouldn't be an issue to get them out before daybreak.

The coop definitely isn't ideal, but we thought of it as a starter coop for a few chickens. The more I'm thinking about it, the more I'm thinking of just taking it back and building a sturdier coop. Hindsight is definitely 20/20!

Yeah, if you can return it do (even if you have to pay a restocking fee).

I can't see how two separate coops for one flock will work out all that well. I also don't think it is realistic to manually try to move 3 into one coop, and then 3 into the other coop each night. By saying "not realistic" that is probably an understatement, that would probably be VERY time consuming and also stress your birds out! Stressed birds don't lay as much if at all! Let them all love their coop and want to go in it without any fuss or chasing or decisions to be made about how many can fit.

I would return it but if you absolutely cannot return it and you still want to use two of these coops I would "merge" them into one coop them so the chickens can roost together.

FYI I am also a newbie, I researched ALL the online coops and ultimately decided they were all way to small and also made of cheap wood (most are made in China out of super light wood and shipped over). I realized one of my dogs could accidentally demolish a coop without even trying! Amish/Mennonite made coops are of course fine but also pricey!