Single Divided Coop Ideas for keeping more than one flock

[bunnychick26]

Hi All! I am just beginning my chicken adventures and we are still at coop design phase. I am wanting to plan ahead for the future and wondering if anyone else has a coop that they have divided inside to house two separate flocks that each have their own space and separate run to keep those birds from direct contact with one another for the purposes of temperament? I don't necessarily want to build multiple coops at this point but I am wanting a mixed flock and had hoped to have some Polish chickens in that mix but am learning that it may not be a good idea to put the polish with the other varieties. So, I'm wondering if I should modify my current design plans to incorporate a separate area and run, just get the polish anyway since I am planning to hatch all of these together, or just ditch the idea of having polish in my mix at this point and time and sticking with my current plan? I appreciate any and all feedback and advice!

I just built mine this weekend it’s divided down the middle for silkies on one side and my other chickens on the other side. Once they all get along I will take down the divider

 

[Ihall26]

I just built mine this weekend it’s divided down the middle for silkies on one side and my other chickens on the other side. Once they all get along I will take down the divider

That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing. We live where it gets decently cold so I will do an larger enclosed coop. I’m just playing with how to design it on the inside to allow to outside to only need one access door. I don’t want to waste space in my coop but also don’t want to build multiples at this point. I appreciate you sharing. It’s nice to see other designs.
We will be building on a slight slope, we live in the mountains so it’s harder to find nice flat ground, so that adds to the challenge a bit!
I plan on hatching a few silkies in my mixed flock. Enjoy!

 

[bunnychick26]

That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing. We live where it gets decently cold so I will do an larger enclosed coop. I’m just playing with how to design it on the inside to allow to outside to only need one access door. I don’t want to waste space in my coop but also don’t want to build multiples at this point. I appreciate you sharing. It’s nice to see other designs.
We will be building on a slight slope, we live in the mountains so it’s harder to find nice flat ground, so that adds to the challenge a bit!
I plan on hatching a few silkies in my mixed flock. Enjoy!

I love silkies. When you get your coop built post a picture!

 

[paintedChix]

Thank you and I agree with the bigger being better! I'm just trying to get my husband on board with my "vision" . I feel like the separate area would beneficial even if they all get along. We have a solid coop design, I believe, but just need to work on how to split or divide it to best serve us and prevent issues down the road.

I haven't read the whole thread yet, it may have already been suggested.

With a shed, you can do something like dog breeders do. You can have individual pens/coops on either side of the door - leaving a walk space from the door to the wall opposite of the door. Then on either side have either each be one big set up with a run off of each or divided into smaller sections. Put nest boxes so you can access them from your walk/aisle way. Make a door into each section that you can go into to deal with cleaning, watering, feeding. Make a pop door on the outside wall to allow chickens into their run.

The full size of your shed will determine how many chickens and ultimately how many pens you can have.

I don't have a set up like this, have seen several. If needed, I can draw a picture (won't be very good, not a good architecture drawer). Or you can google and probably find pictures. I can't remember if there are any pictured on the coops area of BYC or not.

 

[Ihall26]

I haven't read the whole thread yet, it may have already been suggested.

With a shed, you can do something like dog breeders do. You can have individual pens/coops on either side of the door - leaving a walk space from the door to the wall opposite of the door. Then on either side have either each be one big set up with a run off of each or divided into smaller sections. Put nest boxes so you can access them from your walk/aisle way. Make a door into each section that you can go into to deal with cleaning, watering, feeding. Make a pop door on the outside wall to allow chickens into their run.

The full size of your shed will determine how many chickens and ultimately how many pens you can have.

I don't have a set up like this, have seen several. If needed, I can draw a picture (won't be very good, not a good architecture drawer). Or you can google and probably find pictures. I can't remember if there are any pictured on the coops area of BYC or not.

Thank y

 

[Ihall26]

Thank y

Sorry, my keyboard went crazy. Thank you for that. I hadn’t really thought about kennels setup for inspiration. My current though was leaving a space at the front a few feet and then a divider wall up the middle with two sides and then each side would have their own run, nesting boxes, etc.
This is a great thought though so I will keep that in mind as we move forward. With the current local weather over past weekends and other projects requiring immediate attention we haven’t even gotten underway with building. Only some site clearing where we plan to build.