Hi all,
So I have been maintaining two flocks at two properties for the last couple of years with the idea of transitioning the chicken operations, chickening to one place eventually. So early this year I started the setup by enlarging form the original 120SF hoop house run to 1200SF of dividable spaces/pens. I intend to eventually cover the entire thing in 4x2 wire, initially I covered the 300SF pen furthest from the existing flock. Then I divided 450SF at the other end for the existing flock of 6 leaving the middle section empty,
I brought my other flock over and put those 4 in the covered pen, I turned my old 4X4 shed that was my well pump shed, I have never had a small coop before but its worked out. It is south facing, door in the middle with auto door and HW cloth on sides and above the door, It has enough ventilation for the 4.
SO its been 2 months giv or take of see from 30' away but no touch.
I just hatched out 8 Lavender Orps, they are going to need a coop soon.
So I opened up the whole place, let both groups into the middle pen, with access to all spaces I tossed a generous amount of scratch and stepped out. They barely cared at all, the two head hens found each other in the first few minutes, squared up for like 10 seconds then went back to pecking the dirt. They have gone from pecking side by side, sometimes one will get nervous and move away but no fighting at all. I went and did some chores, came back they had kinda moved to their own sides but a few were together in the middle section. I plan to cull some and move them all into the big coop by the time I move the littles to the small pen.
I am blown away this was so easy, so far.
8 chicks in the brooder, so likely that will drop to 4 or 5 hens for the small coop, I am not keeping any boys.
So I have been maintaining two flocks at two properties for the last couple of years with the idea of transitioning the chicken operations, chickening to one place eventually. So early this year I started the setup by enlarging form the original 120SF hoop house run to 1200SF of dividable spaces/pens. I intend to eventually cover the entire thing in 4x2 wire, initially I covered the 300SF pen furthest from the existing flock. Then I divided 450SF at the other end for the existing flock of 6 leaving the middle section empty,
I brought my other flock over and put those 4 in the covered pen, I turned my old 4X4 shed that was my well pump shed, I have never had a small coop before but its worked out. It is south facing, door in the middle with auto door and HW cloth on sides and above the door, It has enough ventilation for the 4.
SO its been 2 months giv or take of see from 30' away but no touch.
I just hatched out 8 Lavender Orps, they are going to need a coop soon.
So I opened up the whole place, let both groups into the middle pen, with access to all spaces I tossed a generous amount of scratch and stepped out. They barely cared at all, the two head hens found each other in the first few minutes, squared up for like 10 seconds then went back to pecking the dirt. They have gone from pecking side by side, sometimes one will get nervous and move away but no fighting at all. I went and did some chores, came back they had kinda moved to their own sides but a few were together in the middle section. I plan to cull some and move them all into the big coop by the time I move the littles to the small pen.
I am blown away this was so easy, so far.
8 chicks in the brooder, so likely that will drop to 4 or 5 hens for the small coop, I am not keeping any boys.
