How many coops are too many?

[Trevorusn]

2 coops work well for me, I use one for layers, and one for meats. One has to be careful, or this hobby can turn into work... says the lady with 16 layers growing right now. Need 8 but I am planning on selling 8 point of lay hens... however, my chicken plans never work out.

I have 33 chicks now from Cackle, another 15+ coming in early May, and a broody sitting on ten bantam eggs, due May 9th. Is that too many? Never! I too will move many on later this summer, so winter numbers are reasonable.
Mary

Very good points! Indeed, I have to check myself and make sure the hobby does not become the 2nd full time gig. Do either of you also run a sort of "combined" setup or are they more spread out?

 

[Trevorusn]

I just kept attaching "new coops" to "old coops" and that way it is still all one coop....... right? Eventually that caught up to me and I had a hodge-podge setup and just wiped it out and built a single, massive coop. Seems to have been a good idea.

How big exactly are we talking about?

 

[Trevorusn]

I have two coops. One big and one small.

I heard of someone who had 9 once!

Nine as a hobbyist or business??

 

[BaaKaaawk]

How big exactly are we talking about?

This big.

 

[HogWildAboutChix]

Right now is a good time to dream and expand your chicken "collection". I have over 75 birds all of varying ages. I have one large coop, with several segregated parts and runs. I also have mobile coops for small flocks. I keep my breeds separate to incubate eggs and sell extras for hatching. I don't say the chickens make me money... but there is a cash flow from them, helps "re-coop" money spent! I have brooding boxes in the coop for chicks, or isolation/recovery. I also have my layers separate for my "eating eggs" and they run with juveniles as the juvies out grow brooding boxes.
Bottomline if you enjoy the chickens you have and can tend to more....GO FOR IT!

 

[Folly's place]

My one coop grew over the years, and now is about 13' x 24', which has five separate areas that can be opened or closed off, so chicks go out there at 2.5 to 3 weeks of age, with their heat source, and breeding groups can be separated as needed. It's both 'coop' and 'roofed run' and works very well.
If I have either Freedom Rangers or Cornishx meat birds, they live in a cattle panel hoop coop in the side lawn, near the house.
The brooder for new chicks is in the garage.
I've managed to restrain myself, and so far have no plans to build another coop...
Mary

 

[Molpet]

I have three 8x8 and one 8x24 cattle panel hoop coops. Turkeys need more room, 10 sqft per bird in the coop. But they prefer to sleep in the trees. I have 20 some turkeys and 40 some chickens. The turkey hens are hogging the larger nest boxes 12 have gone broody so far
Middle of every winter I say I am going to cut back, but keep hatching more. Boys go to freezer camp, some of the hens get sold.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Nine as a hobbyist or business??

Hobbyist. In their back yard.

 

[Katie Reed]

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

This set up is so awesome!!!

 

[lifein1840]

How many coops do we poultry folk generally have?? I am having a third coop, our second 4x6, built and now may have a sweet deal on a fourth coop at least 4x6 in size. How many coops do you all have?? Lol, is this a recipe for chicken math disaster?? Also, can a 4x6 coop be good for say 4 turkeys by themselves?? Lol, aware of needing a larger door but is that the only needed change?

I have an 8x8 coop with a 4x8 brooder attached for my broody hens and chicks. My coop is more like an old fashioned walk in hen house.