how small of a area can i section off in coop for 10, 14 week olds

[blueseal]

my coop is 10x12 and i have 19 adult standards now. i want to get 10 new pullets how big of a area do i need to section off in my coop. i want to keep new birds seperated. 12 of the old birds are going once the new birds begin laying.

 

[Judy]

At 14 weeks they should have the standard 4 sq ft in the coop and 10 sq ft in the run. I wouldn't try to crowd them any more than that; it's already really pretty small if they are staying indoors all day.

 

[farmer_lew]

A 10x12 has room for 30 chickens. If they are in the coop for the majority of the time, then I wouldn't add any more. That is already pretty crowded if you have 14 chickens in the coop now. If you plan on getting more, then you should build another coop, too. Overcrowding can cause all sorts of issues, not the least of which is cannibalism.

 

[averytds]

If you're needing them separate for quarantine, then being separated in the same coop is pointless. If you're needing them separate for becoming acquainted with the existing flock and imprinting to their new coop, then cage off about a 4 x 10 area in such a way the existing flock can still go out. Give it a week and then let them start going out together supervised a bit in the evening. In another week or two you can probably just let them be. I'd maintain the separated area with it's own food and water and a tad smaller access for a bit longer just in case. Gives the younger ones a safe place to run and be able to eat/drink unmolested. IME the birds will pretty much stick to their own original groups out and about and other than the occasional peck, they avoid each other. Then after a couple of months and removal of some of the elders you'll get more integration. May always have some cliques though.


Until you thin your older gals, expect to clean more.

 

[Fred's Hens]

It sounds as if you wish to rotate layers every year or so, with the incoming freshman class entering while the senior class is still around.

Pretty common practice. We tend to overlap pullets by as much as 10 weeks and since the oldsters will be heading out, we allow each class to form it's own pecking order from brooder on up. Keeps life simple. We have a space 10 x 24, with the ability to section off three distinct pens, or combine two for a larger incoming class. If we couldn't do it this way, I think I might have two coops of your size, for 19 full sized birds. Winter is long and over crowding never a good thing.