I am building a 6 x 20 coop and I had a thought which I am not certain

[rwskydive]

I am building a 6 x 20 coop and I had a thought which I am not certain if it is a good idea. Please help
My thought is to divide the coop in half and having hens laying eggs for us to eat and the other side have hens and rooster together for breeding and place a run on each side of the coop. Is this a good idea and what are your thoughts. The 6' width is so I can use 2x4x8 rafters and save lots on money

 

[coffeemama]

I think that sounds ok, but do you just have a pref for unfertilized eggs? I would just have the rooster running with all of them.

 

[rwskydive]

this is going to sound stupid, but...
with the fertilized eggs don't you have the possibility of bllod in egg?

 

[bockbock2008]

All of the eggs i eat and sell are from a flock with 5 roos running with them. Very seldem do you get the blood spot. I have about 90% - 95% fertilization rate.

 

[bantamfan]

dividing the coop is a good idea, only I'd move hens that are setting into a seperate area so the just hatched ckicks will be away from the rest of the flock with their mother.

 

[sugarbush]

Depending on your location you may want to use a 2x6 for rafters, unless you plan to build trusses with the 2x4.

 

[CTChickenMom]

At 20 feet long you could have a breeding section, a small section for momma to hatch new chicks, and a 3rd section for just your laying hens.

If you want to breed a specific breed, put a roo in with 5 or 6 hens (say 6x6); a nursery (6x3); and your Poulet Chateau for your layers (6x11)

I'm going to put a parition in my 8x12 house so that I can separate smaller bantam breeds from my big girls. They'll have a 8x3 space and the big girls have the rest. I'm going to divide the run also. I'll have an access door made from chicken wire in the hen house and a divider in the run.