Multiple Coops for my future flock of 30

[kalercombs]

Currently I have a flock of 15 hens and a rooster. They are free ranged everyday and go out on their own in any weather. I have 12 pullets that are three weeks old in the house that I will add to the flock in a few months. My questions is, is it okay to allow your chickens to self regulate where they sleep? We have two coops outside that are locked down at dusk, the group of 16 break into two groups that vary in number and individual members (but are pretty commonly grouped with the same friends) at night. During the day the might break into smaller groups not always according to sleep mates. Is this normal? I have read that flocks are best to limited to 20 (for health and hierarchy), but won't they kind of regulate themselves? Should I attempt to build one or two coops to house the 30 or simply add another smaller house or two and let them decide?

 

[WindingRoad]

Demensions of present coops?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Demensions of present coops?

Yes we need to know more.

Number of birds?
Breeds?
Large fowl or bantam?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've been trying to figure out how to respond to this without rambling too much. Everything I'm going to say is my opinion or personal preference. Others have different opinions. I don't try to micromanage my chickens but try to let them be chickens as much as I can. I understand that we all have different goals, set-ups, management techniques, weather, flock make-up, and so many different things. What works for one may not work for another. I try to provide predator protection and cover basic needs but leave as much to the chickens as I can. Let them do the work.

Dad had a flock much like yours will be when those chicks grow up, one rooster and 25 to 30 hens. Most slept in the hen house but some slept in trees. Occasionally he'd have one that slept in a hay barn. They free ranged and practically all the eggs were fertile. It did not hurt them to sleep apart as far as them being chickens was concerned. When they were out free-ranging they did scatter quite a bit. Since the eggs were fertile I don't know why that would be an issue.

I don't see anything wrong with them sleeping in different coops. It will not hurt them. The issue is that you probably can't control where they sleep. You can build a new coop for them and maybe train them to sleep there, but some or all could decide to move to another coop.

I don't know what our current facilities look like, size or how they are laid out. Any runs or total free range? Not sure what I'd do in your situation. Even if the coop is too small a large number may try to crowd into one. As long as they do not hurt each other I don't see that as a huge problem. My first though is can you enlarge one of the current coops so it can handle all of them? If you have a decent sized run you could train them all to sleep in there. That might make your life easier. But for the chickens, I don't see how it hurts them to sleep apart.

 

[kalercombs]

I

I've been trying to figure out how to respond to this without rambling too much. Everything I'm going to say is my opinion or personal preference. Others have different opinions. I don't try to micromanage my chickens but try to let them be chickens as much as I can. I understand that we all have different goals, set-ups, management techniques, weather, flock make-up, and so many different things. What works for one may not work for another. I try to provide predator protection and cover basic needs but leave as much to the chickens as I can. Let them do the work.

Dad had a flock much like yours will be when those chicks grow up, one rooster and 25 to 30 hens. Most slept in the hen house but some slept in trees. Occasionally he'd have one that slept in a hay barn. They free ranged and practically all the eggs were fertile. It did not hurt them to sleep apart as far as them being chickens was concerned. When they were out free-ranging they did scatter quite a bit. Since the eggs were fertile I don't know why that would be an issue.

I don't see anything wrong with them sleeping in different coops. It will not hurt them. The issue is that you probably can't control where they sleep. You can build a new coop for them and maybe train them to sleep there, but some or all could decide to move to another coop.

I don't know what our current facilities look like, size or how they are laid out. Any runs or total free range? Not sure what I'd do in your situation. Even if the coop is too small a large number may try to crowd into one. As long as they do not hurt each other I don't see that as a huge problem. My first though is can you enlarge one of the current coops so it can handle all of them? If you have a decent sized run you could train them all to sleep in there. That might make your life easier. But for the chickens, I don't see how it hurts them to sleep apart.

Thanks! That was my main question in all my rambling, size of coop isn't the issue, I was more concerned with their "wellbeing" in sleep apart. Just want to make sure they are happy. If I decided to build on large coop I would just lock the other two as I did when they moved to coop 2 because it was larger. I eventually open the first back up and they did their own thing. The free range everyday except for below temp days or days with extremely high wind, etc. Those days are few. I don't have any trouble getting them into the coop at night. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[kalercombs]

Yes we need to know more.

Number of birds?
Breeds?
Large fowl or bantam?

Thanks for the response. I was more worried about their "feelings" I guess more than whether or not they had enough coop space. They are a mixed flock of BR rooster, 2 buff orps, 4 RIR, 5 easter eggers, and 4 leghorns. They pullets are more of the same. I think that I will just construct more coops rather than one large one.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thanks for the response. I was more worried about their "feelings" I guess more than whether or not they had enough coop space. They are a mixed flock of BR rooster, 2 buff orps, 4 RIR, 5 easter eggers, and 4 leghorns. They pullets are more of the same. I think that I will just construct more coops rather than one large one.

OH now I get it. Yeah psychologically it won't hurt them to sleep in separate coops.

 

[aart]

Interesting that they do split up to roost, often they'll all jam into one coop that may be too small for the numbers.
Nothing wrong with letting them continue choosing their roosting spots,
they must feel safe doing do or they wouldn't do it.
Curious how you will integrate the new birds.
Best of cLuck!

 

[lilmillefleur]

I have found that mine will cram in one smaller henhouse, instead of spread out over the 2 that we had

 

[WindingRoad]

Thanks for the response. I was more worried about their "feelings" I guess more than whether or not they had enough coop space. They are a mixed flock of BR rooster, 2 buff orps, 4 RIR, 5 easter eggers, and 4 leghorns. They pullets are more of the same. I think that I will just construct more coops rather than one large one.

Their feelings will get hurt without enough coop space. KWIM.