One coop or two?

[AZSummer]

Hello, all.

I need to get a coop and run built pretty quickly. I'm just getting started with chickens. I'm thinking of building two smaller coops rather than one. Are there any long-term problems with separating the flocks? If I go with two coops will I need to keep the two flocks separate permanently or can they go into the same run/free range together?

Thanks.

 

[chicky_mommy]

Having two coops with one common run will mean your birds wont necessarily nest/roost where you want them too. It also means that if you have a rooster with each "flock" you will have some cross breeding between roosters and hens of each flock.

 

[Captain Carrot]

they'll all cram into the one coop, and then you'll have one small coop with no space inside, and one empty coop.

If you do go for the two smaller coops, you'll have to keep them separated. But this way you could pick out two breeds you like and keep and breed both of them.

Watch your costs though, for the material costs of building two small coops you could probably build one huge one.

 

[gryeyes]

I have several coops. They are all different sizes, too. The chickens now choose with whom they wish to roost at night. It sometimes changes. The senior flock members like their main coop, but the others change around some.

And when I had a run, it was around the three coops, all together. Then I kept expanding, and the flock ranged freely, so the run became moot and I took it down.

 

[AZSummer]

Thank you, all. I know it's such a noob question, but I had to ask. I haven't seen it addressed anywhere else.