One large chicken house or 2 small ones for new flock?

[KCGirl]

We were blessed with 11 healthy chicks, but planned housing for 7 hens. They are all together in the brooder. When it's time, they'll have a large fenced area with the housing inside the fence. Should we just add another smaller house, or get one larger house for all 11 to share? Pros/cons? First time with chicks so appreciate your input.

 

[DobieLover]

Chickens are flock animals. Eventually they will want to form one large flock. If you do not provide them with a structure large enough for all of them, they will stuff themselves into a structure that is not large enough for them and chaos will naturally ensue.

 

[KCGirl]

Chickens are flock animals. Eventually they will want to form one large flock. If you do not provide them with a structure large enough for all of them, they will stuff themselves into a structure that is not large enough for them and chaos will naturally ensue.

Good to know, thank you

 

[SandyRiverChick]

another smaller house,

Does this mean pre-fab? Is that what you're initially going with and then asking should you get another pre-fab? If It's not to late, I'm asking so that you can re-think buying a pre-fab. But I won't assume that's what you mean..... ????

 

[KCGirl]

Does this mean pre-fab? Is that what you're initially going with and then asking should you get another pre-fab? If It's not to late, I'm asking so that you can re-think buying a pre-fab. But I won't assume that's what you mean..... ????

Yes, it would be prefab and then we put it together. Not sure my skills set allows for BIY, but would love to learn. What are your thoughts on why to avoid prefab?

 

[SandyRiverChick]

When it comes to pre fab unfortunately it's all about cost. There are some incredibly expensive better quality coops that I can't really bash but for the cost I feel I could build a whole barn myself. So the cheaper you find, the more you may as well light the money on fire it's just so temporary. Especially with 11. What they advertise is just not true. The super cheapo's on Amazon might work as a brooder but no chance for adult chickens. SO better use of your money is modifying something like a shed. I just got a shed from Lowe's for my son's house and the whole time we were assembling it, I was thinking this would be such a great coop. When I started with a flock of 6 I modified a dog house. I'm not a carpenter, I'm in IT. But if I can do it, you can too! But for 11, I think you're looking at slight mods to a shed. OR money is no issue and you're going after a quality coop for 11 chickens, like Carolina Coops (just an example, I know nothing about them,) around 5k. Have you checked out the Coops section of BYC for ideas?

 

[KCGirl]

When it comes to pre fab unfortunately it's all about cost. There are some incredibly expensive better quality coops that I can't really bash but for the cost I feel I could build a whole barn myself. So the cheaper you find, the more you may as well light the money on fire it's just so temporary. Especially with 11. What they advertise is just not true. The super cheapo's on Amazon might work as a brooder but no chance for adult chickens. SO better use of your money is modifying something like a shed. I just got a shed from Lowe's for my son's house and the whole time we were assembling it, I was thinking this would be such a great coop. When I started with a flock of 6 I modified a dog house. I'm not a carpenter, I'm in IT. But if I can do it, you can too! But for 11, I think you're looking at slight mods to a shed. OR money is no issue and you're going after a quality coop for 11 chickens, like Carolina Coops (just an example, I know nothing about them,) around 5k. Have you checked out the Coops section of BYC for ideas?

I actually am eying the Americana Penthouse from Carolina Coops. Though the quality seems to be up there, so is the price. Ouch! We did consider transforming a shed, but they were high priced as well. I enjoyed one of your articles of a coop you've created, very inspiring. Thinking it over this weekend, we are on a budget, so wanting to be sure I chose wisely vs. impulsively.

 

[GXPWeasel]

Hi. If you have some tools, patience, and some general ideas of how to use a saw and drill, I would highly consider building your own. I downloaded very detailed plans of a nice coop on Etsy, and the instructions were so thorough that even my dad (who is a former contractor) was impressed with the detail. The steps listed, and materials list were spot on, and it really has made the whole process pretty easy. Plus, if you have the know how, you can edit the plans to your needs/wants. I think we were under $2k all in on a coop and run combination, (coop is 8-10ft, run is 8x16ft) that is covered, and should be good for 12-16 chickens.
If you have the time and some help, I think building your own is a great idea. Plus, if you have kids, it's a great way to get them involved on the project as well.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I actually am eying the Americana Penthouse from Carolina Coops. Though the quality seems to be up there, so is the price. Ouch! We did consider transforming a shed, but they were high priced as well. I enjoyed one of your articles of a coop you've created, very inspiring. Thinking it over this weekend, we are on a budget, so wanting to be sure I chose wisely vs. impulsively.

Awe thank you! I really better update my story as it hit a new level recently. I made a ton of mistakes in the beginning but that's how I learn. Now I'm a pro, haha. I'm a girl with tools! If I could do it over and had a particular budget, I might actually find a coop that I could easily modify/expand. I do really like the pre-made hardware cloth screens that come with the Amazon cheapies. It's the "wood" that I can't even call wood, I don't really know what it is, I'll call it veneer...... No chance it's weather proof enough beyond half a season. What about small shed that you can make bigger? Look on Facebook and Craigslist for something you can work with. I've actually never stopped expanding and I'm just now at the point where I think my coop is amazing and would be a very big ticket to buy net new. But I had the luxury of adding slowly instead of fronting the total cost. Thanks to chicken math of course. Started with 6, now 15, so I had no choice but to keep expanding, haha.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum, glad you joined!

Where are you located? That's important information for a lot of questions. It's mostly about weather. There is a big difference in the Fjords or Norway to the jungles of Costa Rico, the peaks of the Himalayas to the coast of the Gulf South of the US. If you modify your profile to show where you are located it will always be available and can really help us answer. If you are somewhere with severe cold in winter you may need more room and a pretty solid coop versus an open air structure where it never snows.

Some people have separate coops. Coops are generally where they sleep. If you have decent weather they should spend most of their time outside during the day. Nests are typically in a coop but some people have nests separate. It's not a case of one way being right where everything else is wrong. There are usually many different ways of doing anything that can work.

Your plans and goals for your chickens matter also. I raise mine for meat and to play with genetics, the eggs are mostly a side benefit. I give most of mine away. I have one main coop for the laying breeding flock but a couple of coops/shelters for some to sleep in when it gets crowded. And ways to isolate a section of run with a shelter.

I don't know what you already have or why it is only good for 7 hens. Depending on your climate and how predator proof your run is it may work out better than you think. If you are only going to have a flock of hens with them all the same age or level of maturity you can get by with less than if you will have a rooster or two and will be raising chicks or integrating new chickens.

Without knowing a lot more about what you have and what you plan it's hard for me to come up with concrete recommendations. In general I think it is easier on you to have one coop and run that can handle all of your chickens though having a second coop with its own bit of run where you can isolate a chicken if you need to can be very handy.