Multiple coops Vs one big coop

[STACEYH]

Personally if I was going to show some I would like a coop for my main flock and either divide a large coop or have a smaller coop run for the showing flock. I would want to be more hands on with them. Good luck with what you decide.

 

[My Bagurks]

I go with one big one. Using bird netting or chicken wire, garden fencing for partitioning. That way, they all live, eat, and sleep together. Then if there’s some unforeseen circumstance and they HAVE to be together or accidentally end up together it’s not a big issue.

 

[3KillerBs]

A compromise is to make one large coop that can be subdivided.

That's what I've got in mind with Neuchickenstein -- I'm planning on splitting it in half and dividing one half in half as well.

But I'm not getting rid of the other two coops -- they can be used to separate out birds I want to breed, to separate the grow-outs I'm planning on selling or slaughtering, etc.

Also I would like to show them. There are a few quality birds among them

Check out the showing section of the forums to see what people there recommend.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

One big one is easier to manage on a daily basis but multiples adds a great deal of flexibility to your operation. Regardless of what you choose, one always needs at least one additional housing option for quarantining sick, injured, new birds, chicks and broody hens.
When problems occur, it is too late to build another coop.

 

[RooStar Chicken Gang]

I'll tell you how my coops evolved... So first I had just the typical pine coop you know can fit about four birds... Then I brought a bird cage an put shelves in it, then both those got moved into a shed... Inside it.. so they normally all sleep in the bird cage it's open thy both are they can decide where to sleep an go. Some lay eggs in the pine house but most decide they like the shelves an cage better some even preft to sleep on the cage floor instead of the pine coop but they still lay eggs in pine coop... N be broody in there. So Iv got two coops they all go in one by themselves most the time, maybe one or two might go in the other one every now n then.

 

[Shadrach]

Multiple Coops whenever possible.
There are a few factors that can make a multiple coop system work well.
Being able to free range. If you need to make a run per coop it gets expensive.
Being prepared to make basic coops.
Having and /or planning to have multiple roosters.
Having a broody coop/quarantine coop.
This might give you some ideas.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/shadrach’s-multi-coops.74344/

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I came to the multiple coop option somewhat by chance.
Growing up, we had a large 2 room henhouse for 100 layers. I don't know the exact dimensions but was over 40 feet long by around 20 feet. One room was about twice the size of the smaller with a full man door between. It afforded flexibility like when new pullets were brought in as replacements for the current layers to provide a steady supply for egg sales. Both rooms had sloping roost area with poop board under the entire area and two rows of nest boxes under the front and sides of the roosts with a long door to access all nests at once. The big room had 5 homemade broody jail cages hanging from the ceiling.
Where I live now, anything you build over 100 sq. ft. needs a permit. Therefor every time I need more housing, I build something just under 100. I ended up with 5 such buildings on separate parts of the property with gardens between.
One divided into 2 rooms, one is divided into 3 units. That flexibility has been a Godsend many times.