introducing new "flock" to 1 chicken

[aart]

What if I have 2 different coops for one flock? Does it work?

Not usually, they all want to stay together and will cram into a space too small to do so.
It would be cheaper to build one larger coop anyway.
Do you have building skills, tools, and materials available?

Think about your year round weather.
Hot as hades in summer? So lots of ventilation and good shade.
Winters are fairly mild and rainy?

 

[cmaranhao]

still not finished because I still want to adjust a few things but it is starting to look good.

Next big goal is to find good wheels to be able to move the whole thing across the yard.

how many chickens do you think this coop can hold? initially I had 3 in there and it was fine I think. they all slept in the egg laying box so the coop was pretty empty.

I am thinking I can cover the coop run to be able to hold some birds down there? not a good idea? what do you think?

one detail.. the coop is suspended on the frame so wherever I move it, the coop will follow.

 

[aart]

Sleeping in the nests is not good... IMO...you'll end up with poopy eggs.
Some of the tiny coop/runs can be converted to all coop, but not this one I don't think.

First thought is to rig a roost up under the tarp about 5 feet high.
But I don't know what kind of predators , other a than the hawks, you have to worry about.

 

[Mrs. K]

Those darling coops, so easy to put up are really only for 2-3 birds, or baby chicks. Look for a shed, sometimes used for gardening tools and lawn mowers.

If you want 6-8 birds, go with a shed. A 2x2.5 x 2 meter shed would hold your birds well, and it would be easy for you to go in too. It would fit nice in that run.

Depending on your climate and wind, some people have created shelter by enclosing one end of the run with tarps and have had good results.

I personally would go with a permanent run/ coop. And then just let the birds out occasionally. Anything big is hard to move. Moving it often places stress on the joints, and things break.

Mrs K

 

[cmaranhao]

Some good advice in these posts... Will reflect on them for the next few days..

 

[cmaranhao]

bought 3 young chickens today and tried to see the reaction of the black hen to them. she did not pecked them but I think she was reacting very oddly. she was constantly clucking and acting very nervous. she even approached the 3 young chickens and inflated a bit, making herself a bit bigger, slightly opening her wings.

this is when I decided it was safer to put the 3 new chickens inside the dog crate I got for this purpose only. I will try setting them together again tomorrow and see how it goes.

but these little brown chickens seem to not be so docile as my black ones (including the 2 that are already gone). when I was approaching to grab them to put them inside the crate, 2 of them pecked on my hand, this never happened with my black ones!

some pictures

are these isa browns? I am looking online and they seem to be but I am not good at spotting these little details.

 

[Mrs. K]

Being you have three new ones, and one old one I would suggest this. Put the old one in the little pen, and let the little ones in the big pen. This will let them explore and figure things out in safety.

Now I can't see your whole pen, but it looks pretty empty, which makes it boring for your birds and they cannot get away from each other or out of each other's sight. You need to clutter it up, work the third dimension, build up. Set up a roost in the run, put up a platform that birds can get under or on top of, set up little mini walls that a bird can disappear behind one, and set up an extra feed bowl.

Let your new birds explore that for a day or two, even give them a little chase so they find the hideouts. Then let the old bird out with them shortly before dark.

Mrs k

 

[cmaranhao]

here it goes the current state of things after considering your advice. I have 3 roosts in with different heights and one additional shade. what do you think?

I set my black chicken free at the end of the day, she went for a long dust bath. after that she pecked the other for a few times, two of them it might have removed a few feathers. I left them alone and after dark went there to check them, 2 of the new chickens were already inside the coop with the older one. I put the remaining one also inside, lets hope tomorrow morning things go smoothly.

 

[aart]

Have they tried the roosts?
Some birds like swinging roosts, some do not.

 

[Mrs. K]

Keep adding stuff to the run, the roosts are good but it is still wide open anywhere in the pen can be seen by a bird anywhere else. Some mini walls leaned up against the walls, or a platform will really help.