How many birds? Help

[Steve james]

Thank you I think I'm gonna add some shelving and maybe another small nesting box and see how they do. When should I put the chicks in the coop?? Can I put a separate smaller coop inside the big coop to separate them some what??

 

[Noellereagan]

I don’t know about yours but here’s mine. I house 13 birds in here at night (5 chickens in the back part) and 8 turkeys in the main area.

 

[Steve james]

I don’t know about yours but here’s mine. I house 13 birds in here at night (5 chickens in the back part) and 8 turkeys in the main area. View attachment 1499647

That's a cool setup!! I'm gonna add some shelving. When can I put the chicks in the coop (separated by a pvc/wire brooder??

 

[rosemarythyme]

When should I put the chicks in the coop?? Can I put a separate smaller coop inside the big coop to separate them some what??

Yes you can put in an enclosure so that the older birds can see, but not get to, the younger ones. Doesn't have to be anything fancy. There's no exact numbers to integrating... you kind of have to play it by ear and go step by step.

I raised my last group of chicks inside the run so that they'd grow up side by side with the adults, and was able to have them moved into the coop without any barriers by 6 weeks.

 

[ChickenRelatedUserName]

Seems to me that you have enough height to make a two story operation. Coop all the way across the top, run all the way across the bottom (as you have now). With enough windows and ventilation in the coop, you'd effectively double your floor space. I'd put more than one way up to the second floor so there is no bottleneck if a fight breaks out. Your main concern with that idea will be access for cleaning and repairing if you cut your height in half.

 

[aart]

Im new to raising chickens but I feel I have caught along fast. I currently have 3 barred rocks laying about an egg a day (seem happy). My chickens will not free range my coop is about 7x8 and 6ft high. I have been raising 7 baby chicks for my children how many is comfortable within my coop?? Or will I need an addition space for them? Check the pictures out of they upload. I have made a few changes but the size is the same.

I agree with @rosemarythyme 5 birds in there is plenty for full time confinement.
I'd remove the wall to that upper area...I assume the roost is in there?
How old are the chicks?
It's going to be tight space for integration,
but best to integrate them sooner rather than later IMO.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

Here's some tips and tricks on....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

 

[Steve james]

I agree with @rosemarythyme 5 birds in there is plenty for full time confinement.
I'd remove the wall to that upper area...I assume the roost is in there?
How old are the chicks?
It's going to be tight space for integration,
but best to integrate them sooner rather than later IMO.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

Here's some tips and tricks on....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

The chicks are 2-3 weeks old now. I'm gonna wait till they get some size before putting them in the coop. The roosts are in the closed area along with the nesting boxes. I can always add more open spaces on the side with the door (shelving)

 

[aart]

Treasure coast Fl

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