How many coops are too many?

[Erin80]

We have one that currently houses 9 hens but could fit 13. We are building a second which I’m VERY excited about. We are hatching eggs so the ones that hatch will live in the new coop until I decide who I want to keep. I’m actually surprised my husband is this supportive of my obsession aka hobby. I think it’s because I constantly remind him that they provide food for us. We are also building a meat bird tractor for late summer/early fall to raise 30-35 meat birds. Lots happening here this spring! I’m making lists of breeds I want to try out for the new coop

 

[Tre3hugger]

I have also been pondering this. I think as long as husbandry remains top priority, there is no "too much." Sometimes multiple coops are necessary. For example I currently keep a mixed flock with 1 rooster and got my first egg customers. A weekly CSA who wants as much as I can produce. So they are in one coop Right now 8x4. I also just built an Afram tractor 8x4 to grow out any roos that I hatch for meat. Say I wanted to acquire some birds of a specific breed and start breeding to try and sell hatching eggs and chicks. I will need another coop so the eggs/genetics don't mix. For every breed you want to breed true, you kind of need another coop. And this is just chickens. If you have gujineas or anything else you will probably want dedicated housing for them.

I plan on building a barn that will house goats and my growing amount of laying chickens I hatch. I will then start a breeding program in the 8x4 coop my layers are in right now. I may build one more 8x4 so I can offer variety of breeds in my breeding program. I also have a bunch of guineas growing right now and am building them an 8x4 pallet coop. So right now my plans is for 3 coops, and a coop in a barn. I currently have one chicken coop and tractor, and a quinea coop in the works. I think a lot of coops is better than stuffing too many birds or species into one.

Long story short, there is no too much! The only limit is how many coops/animals one can take care of EVERY SINGLE DAY.

 

[barn206]

I have 2 coops.. big coop is 12x18 and an 8x8 for chicks. However everybody ends up in the big coop starting fall.
( I refuse to clean 2 coops after Labor Day) Good luck ..It’s nice having the space

 

[Trevorusn]

Too many coops?
What's that mean?
It's like too much money, there's no such thing
It's like a girl too pretty with too much class
Being too lucky, a car too fast

Well that about answers it then.

 

[Trevorusn]

Make a bird village!!!! There’s never enough! This is my secret dream!

I'm not sure what to make of this, but now I can't get it out of my head!

 

[Trevorusn]

So it sounds like in general many of you do seasonal changes, especially growing out meat birds. Now while I don't plan on that, I do plan on having a 25-35ish permanent population including hatches. So, it sounds like 3 is certainly not excessive and even four with 3 being at least 4x6 is not a bad idea either. Thanks for the replies!

 

[Painted Calls]

That is sooooo cute! Who goes in the jail?

The broodies!

How many coops are too many? You're asking the wrong crowd lol. I'm not done with my current project coop and I'm already planning another.

 

[Trevorusn]

I have 2 coops.. big coop is 12x18 and an 8x8 for chicks. However everybody ends up in the big coop starting fall.
( I refuse to clean 2 coops after Labor Day) Good luck ..It’s nice having the space

I was thinking this, but with breeding it seems mutiple smaller coops, while a pain in winter to do, makes more sense.

 

[ColoradoPip]

The broodies!

How many coops are too many? You're asking the wrong crowd lol. I'm not done with my current project coop and I'm already planning another.

Right!?! I keep getting more animals before I finish the last ones' house

 

[Trevorusn]

The broodies!

How many coops are too many? You're asking the wrong crowd lol. I'm not done with my current project coop and I'm already planning another.

Lol, perhaps it is the wrong crowd...and the right one too!