How Big is Too Big?

[Frazzemrat1]

Being in the Panhandle, you definitely won't need heat, even if you get cold sensitive girls. Maybe if you have a bad winter, or some cold temps, you could wrap the coop in plastic, but that's about it. My in-laws are from Panhandle, and I was in Wichita Falls for a little over a year. The worst I saw was at 30s... which really isn't cold when your covered in feathers.

 

[PugNut]

MPORT, I just wanted to say hello because I am in the exact same boat as you! I am converting a pole building into a coop, for my first chickens come April. I was worried about the "too big" thing, but have come to realize chickens would enjoy more room and the money I save can go to my hardware cloth budget. I have no carpentry skills so my main hurdle will be getting in a pop door, but am hoping to use baked goods to bribe my neighbor to help.
I swear I am putting more planning and research into these future chickens than some people put into having kids. Good luck to you and I look forward to watching your journey unfold!

 

[BYCforlife]

I actually built my coop before my chickens came!

 

[LMN1966]

Good to know! Thanks for the response!

BUY all together! Don't buy separately. You'll have flock fights, it's a pecking order, they are serious when you add more flock! Trust me! We had to gradually place them together, like 5 months of babysitting! Just a suggestion! Good luck!

 

[LMN1966]

C

BUY all together! Don't buy separately. You'll have flock fights, it's a pecking order, they are serious when you add more flock! Trust me! We had to gradually place them together, like 5 months of babysitting! Just a suggestion! Good luck!

Cool coop!

 

[LMN1966]

I actually built my coop before my chickens came!

View attachment 1184160

Oh BTW we did the same thing as you, build 1st!

 

[Mamatomany123]

BUY all together! Don't buy separately. You'll have flock fights, it's a pecking order, they are serious when you add more flock! Trust me! We had to gradually place them together, like 5 months of babysitting! Just a suggestion! Good luck!

I've read about this being a problem but I've never had this issue. The only time I had trouble integrating new chicks into the group was with one of my sexlinks, she was on a kill mission, BUT she had also started bullying my bigger hens so I think it was she was just a bully. All 10 other hens couldnt have cared less about the new chicks running around.

 

[LMN1966]

I've read about this being a problem but I've never had this issue. The only time I had trouble integrating new chicks into the group was with one of my sexlinks, she was on a kill mission, BUT she had also started bullying my bigger hens so I think it was she was just a bully. All 10 other hens couldnt have cared less about the new chicks running around.

We had 3 bullies! We, separated them from the fighters. To change the pecking order, we did this every day until they were all friends again. What a hassle. You're lucky! Thanks for the post!

 

[LMN1966]

We had 3 bullies! We, separated them from the fighters. To change the pecking order, we did this every day until they were all friends again. What a hassle. You're lucky! Thanks for the post!

Sexlinks are known for this. Bossy.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Sexlinks are known for this. Bossy.

Yep, mine was a sexlink. I tried removing her and she went right back to attack mode. She even started trying to attack me we spared her life and gave her to a friend. Shes doing well there but they have a rooster. Guess she needed him to calm her down.