Getting more chickens, should I mix my flock?

[peckham]

Hi everyone!

I’m fairly new to owning chickens. I currently have 5 golden Wyandottes, one of them gave me her first ever egg just a few days ago!

I have fallen victim to chicken math and have ordered 10 silver Wyandottes, due to be picked up around April 2026.

I currently use an Eglu cube, which is too small to house 15 total chickens but perfect for my 5 girls.

I plan on setting up a larger coop for my 10 girls coming later this year but I’m not sure how to handle their run.

My 5 girls currently have about 60 sq ft of Run space to roam in, unfortunately can’t free range because of my dogs. I plan on adding about 90 sq ft of run to their current set up to accommodate the incoming girls.

But now I’m overthinking the logistics. Can I keep my girls sleeping in separate coops with a shared run or will they naturally want to sleep together? Should I just set up a coop that can house all 15 together? Keep their runs separate and close or separate and far?

If anyone has any insight or ideas about this, I’d love to hear it!!

 

[debid]

I'd build the new digs to house all of them putting the runs so they have an adjoining wall and put a door in it that can be opened/closed. That gives you some flexibility as you are introducing them to each other. Once merged into one flock, they will likely sleep together in the larger coop which leaves the smaller one available for situations where you need to house one or some separately for a period of time. I use my small coop to house chicks until they are ready to merge and it has been used to temporarily house an injured hen and a broody I wanted to break. Oh, and it's there if I need it to separate out an especially mean one or a surprise cockerel that I will be rehoming or whatever else might come up.