multiple coops on one run

[remington3006]

ok i have ben thinking of extending my run and wondering if you can have 2 or even 3 coops on a big run. this plan might go through but i have not made up my mind . i just whanted to see if anyone had done this and if you have plz post pics.

 

[Judy]

I don't see why not; I don't see the problem, unless you are talking about a covered run.

 

[DaddysChickens]

Quote:
I have actually designed mine this way...Soon to be constructed I will have a 4'x8' coop at each end of the run and will have a 10'x8' covered run connecting the two. I think its a neat idea and I'm wondering if the different breeds will shack up seprately or mix....

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

Well, I suppose it depends on why you have separate coops.

If the birds get along and there are no quarantine reasons to isolate them....

Now if you have isolated coops for breeding, then you would probably want to partition the run so you don't get unintended combos.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Quote:
I have actually designed mine this way...Soon to be constructed I will have a 4'x8' coop at each end of the run and will have a 10'x8' covered run connecting the two. I think its a neat idea and I'm wondering if the different breeds will shack up seprately or mix....

I remember reading a post where all the birds insisted in roosting in one coop, even though it was crowded. I'm guessing that most won't separate by breed...a chicken is a chicken to a chicken...

I love the idea in theory, however...I would love to know if anyone has made this work.

 

[Batty about Banties]

This sounds like an awesome idea!!! I hope it works out! Post pictures if you decide to do it!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Yup. It can be done.

 

[Lbrad7]

I tend to agree with "yay chicks" in that I believe that they are all going to pile into one coop at night. Once birds form a flock they tend to want to roost in the same area. You may have a stragler or two that like to sleep apart buy my money is on you having to physically separate them every evening. I think that would kind of defete the purpose of multiple coops and make me lean toward building one larger one.

Either way, I am very curious to find out how it works out for you. Keep us informed on how it goes!

 

[Matt A NC]

I have 2 coops on the large lot. That lot is about 80' by 15'.

I do have a partition that I pull across when needed for spring time breeding. It gives the 4x8 house a 30'x15' lot. The 8x8 house is on the larger side. I also use the smaller house for teens and new birds come late summer and fall. That way the main flock will get used to them for weeks/months before they all get to roam together for the winter.

Right now the smaller house has 11 hens sleeping in it at night and a welsummer cockerel that decided to move out there. His brother is in the main henhouse with the 30 layers at night. The flocks mingle all day, but seperate at night and go to roost in their own house.

Matt

 

[HighNDryFarm]

I was considering this idea when some of my hens went broody and I noticed that the roo had his "fabulous" five that hung with him. Then another group hung together if they all weren't with the roo and his main girls. Then the two broody girls had their chicks that hung with them. The two broody were the last to go in the run because they didn't like the roo (how ironic is that). But the thing is, I was thinking that they would roost in another hen house if they could. I didn't get to test this because I lost all my girls a couple of weeks ago but I think they would have split up if they'd had more then one house to choose from.

When I build my flock back up, I'm going to give them two housing options, but I only think they'll split up with the "next generation".