Hens won't let others in the coop & it's getting cold!

[backinthecoop45]

Hi. Hoping someone can help us solve this issue real quick!
What can we do to get everyone to get along so that they can all share both coops in the winter?
This is the first time we have let a broody hen hatch, then another went broody with her and now they are co parenting and will not let any of the others back in the second coop! It's starting to get really cold and the others cannot stay outside but they are afraid to go into the other coop because they will get attacked. We cannot have this many chickens in only one coop that's why we built a second which is attached to the 1st coop with a 20 foot run in between, so what can we do with the mamas' & babies that are taking over the other coop?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How big are your coops? More birds mean more room or less birds. Sounds like you are full up. Pictures of your coops may help. If they are smaller than you probably can't do much except thin the flock or build bigger.

 

[aart]

Yes, knowing more about :

your flock size(numbers, ages, genders),

your coop(size in feet by feet with pics),

might offer clues to if there is a solvable problem.

Also, how old are the chicks?

 

[Mrs. K]

How old are the broody chicks? Cause about 3-4 weeks, the broody hen will just 'forget' them, and the aggression will fall dramatically. She will just return to the flock, chicks on their own.

 

[backinthecoop45]

Hi. Ok. We have a mixed age flock of 16. There are 2, 4 month old roos, but they don't bother the mamas, the rest are all hens that range from 1 1/2 yrs old to the 9 month old mamas.
Many different purebreds.
The two coops are 8 tall 6 long 4 wide , the run that is in between them that connects both coops is 8 tall 6 wide and 20 long.
The broody hens are 9 months old and their chicks are 3 1/2 weeks old.
Please let us know of any other questions you need answered to help.
Thank you very much

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Can you partition off a part of the coop. The chicks are still young and the moms will defend them for another few weeks. Otherwise after the chicks are 6-8 weeks generally moms wean and abandon them. So mother longer but usually without so much gusto.

 

[backinthecoop45]

Can you partition off a part of the coop. The chicks are still young and the moms will defend them for another few weeks. Otherwise after the chicks are 6-8 weeks generally moms wean and abandon them. So mother longer but usually without so much gusto.

Can we take the chicks away at this point and raise them indoors until they are old enough to go back outside on their own or would that screw up too many things?

 

[backinthecoop45]

Can you partition off a part of the coop. The chicks are still young and the moms will defend them for another few weeks. Otherwise after the chicks are 6-8 weeks generally moms wean and abandon them. So mother longer but usually without so much gusto.

We have yet another coop & run that's totally separate that's set up just a few feet away from the others but it's a bit smaller because we usually use just it for quarantine and new bird introductions. Can we use that or would we be isolating them to much?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Can we take the chicks away at this point and raise them indoors until they are old enough to go back outside on their own or would that screw up too many things?

We have yet another coop & run that's totally separate that's set up just a few feet away from the others but it's a bit smaller because we usually use just it for quarantine and new bird introductions. Can we use that or would we be isolating them to much?

Either of these options would work. You may or may have troubles integrating birds back, but it shouldn't be too bad, especially the second option of the other coop.

 

[backinthecoop45]

So our options would be...1) bring the chicks indoors for a few weeks and hope the mamas aren't to traumatized & they will start to share the coop again or 2) put the family in the "new bird" coop, right?
Any clue on what to do if we go with option 1 and they still aren't sharing the coop?