How big of a coop, or how many coops will I need

[Robert Boyd]

I currently have 1 Australop, hen and rooster in the pen along with a cornish hen (another australop roo runnin free in the back yard)

Ive got 8 10 week old red stars hens, and one Rooster

3 10 week old new hampshire reds I believe one of these is also a roo.

3 11 week old cornish hens

4 11 week old dominics (i think I have a roo in these)

2 11 week old silver spangled hamburgs (1 of each)

4 11 week old rhode island reds ( i think)

and 2 turkens( have no earthly the sex on these.

I believe thats 30 total,

we just put 6 Austalop eggs and 4 cornish australop cross eggs in our first incubator experiance 2 hours ago.

how big and how many coops do i need.

im not worried about the run, I have a fully wired 20 by 16 pen and about a 1/4 acre fenced in already

but should I seperate the breeds, or let them stay together

thanks, and Im over my head here, but my kids , my wife and I have never had more fun doing anything:^}

be blessed. Robert

 

[Robert Boyd]

trying to post a picture for the first time

 

[Cajunrose]

I have no idea but I lOVE your pictures!!! I'm getting excited about starting our own small flock.

Good luck!
Stephenie

 

[Robert Boyd]

Quote:
thanks for teh honesty
I forgot to add weve got 3 geese, 2 ducks and 3 turkeys......

Good luck to you as well:^}

 

[Titania]

Quote:
Hmmm. I'm pretty new at this but I think I can throw out a few tips I've read/learned along the way.
Your australorp hen and rooster that you already have...are they older already? How are they adjusting to the new chicks/younger birds?
As for how many coops...according to "Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens", heavy breeds need 4.0sq.ft/bird in an open type housing. In confined, it's 10sq.ft./bird. Light breeds are 3.0sq.ft/bird in open housing or 7.5sq.ft/bird in confined housing. I see no problems in keeping all your chickens in one coop. I have a friend who keeps all 30 chickens in one coop, but with only one rooster. They are also mixed breeds. My little flock is mixed breed and that hasn't been problematic in anyway. If you want to sell eggs to incubate, I suppose that separating out the breeds and keeping 1 roo/flock is the way to go. (I think if you get a second roo, the flock should be at least 12 hens.) So, I think that you should plan on 4sq.ft/bird, so 120sq.ft. in the coop.
BTW, love your run! It looks very well constructed!

 

[Robert Boyd]

Quote:
Hmmm. I'm pretty new at this but I think I can throw out a few tips I've read/learned along the way.
Your australorp hen and rooster that you already have...are they older already? How are they adjusting to the new chicks/younger birds?
As for how many coops...according to "Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens", heavy breeds need 4.0sq.ft/bird in an open type housing. In confined, it's 10sq.ft./bird. Light breeds are 3.0sq.ft/bird in open housing or 7.5sq.ft/bird in confined housing. I see no problems in keeping all your chickens in one coop. I have a friend who keeps all 30 chickens in one coop, but with only one rooster. They are also mixed breeds. My little flock is mixed breed and that hasn't been problematic in anyway. If you want to sell eggs to incubate, I suppose that separating out the breeds and keeping 1 roo/flock is the way to go. (I think if you get a second roo, the flock should be at least 12 hens.) So, I think that you should plan on 4sq.ft/bird, so 120sq.ft. in the coop.
BTW, love your run! It looks very well constructed!

I divided my run in half using welded wire and cut out 4 places where the younger chicks can get through but the older chickens cant, they seem very well adjusted now, and my young chickens spend half there time with the older ones:^}

thanks for the help, and If minimum is 120, I think Ill gowith 200, for growing pains:^}
Im still thinking about dividing them up but I really want others opinions on this

 

[Titania]

I definitely can't have any roosters (shouldn't even have chickens in the city where I live), but if I could have roosters, I would definitely keep them penned in separately among their breeds. That way if you have extra fertile eggs or if you hatch out any baby chicks, you can sell them as pure breed chickens.

 

[Robert Boyd]

Quote:
that was my issue, right there, thanks

 

[patandchickens]

If you only keep one rooster, it is totally up to you whether you want to mix up all the hens. I can't personally see any major reason not to.

If you keep more than one rooster, you could *try* keeping them together if you really *want* but it is risky and can easily end in bloodshed. 'Sup to you.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Robert Boyd]

Quote:
Ive already experianced this:^{ The dominant rooster beat up a smaller one and in return the smaller one beat the heck out of a few chicks when he flew over the 4 ft fence dividing them, that rooster is now free running in the yard with the ducks and geese and goats:^}

im leaning toward seperating the breeds with there roo:^}