Multiple coops

[PMFchickenguy]

Hello...I work on a farm with ALOT of chickens. We are planning on moving their coop to a different area. Before we do we want to build more coops. My question is will the chickens try to cram in to one coop or will they go into the other? Would it by wise to build multiple coops and just expand on the one we have?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I keep two flocks who free range in the same area. Chickens mostly will stick to the coop they are familiar with, though they may occasionally lay in other coops. So it can work it just depends how many different coops you wish to take care of.

 

[momesq]

Do your two flocks get along alright when they range together? we have a small mobile coop w/ 3 hens, and are adding another small mobile coop with 4 hens (my son wants to raise his own flock from chicks), and I was wondering how they would handle the new social situation.

Thanks!

 

[Pork Pie]

Do your two flocks get along alright when they range together? we have a small mobile coop w/ 3 hens, and are adding another small mobile coop with 4 hens (my son wants to raise his own flock from chicks), and I was wondering how they would handle the new social situation.

Thanks!

In my experience, as long as you have at least 2 feeding stations then they should be fine - of course there will be pecking orders to establish but thats likely to relate to the right to food - this is my experience at least. I've recently introduced new chickens to my flock and i have 4 feeding stations - each out of eyesight of each other and so the new birds still have access to food and water.

CT

 

[ChickenCanoe]

With a large number of chickens and moving a hen house a long way, they'll often go back to the place where the building had stood and sleep on the ground or bushes or trees there. Move it short distances, they'll likely and reluctantly go into it at night.
With multiple housing options, they'll likely squeeze into a smaller number. Some will opt for less crowded housing.

I have 8 housing units. They usually go back to where they slept before. I once moved a flock from the brooder house where the were raised to another building. Every chance they got, one or two would go back to sleep where they grew up.