TWO coops ONE run... Will it work??

[Organics North]

Hi everyone. My 7x15 coop is divided into two separate 7x7 coops with separate roosts and feeding and watering areas. I am wanting to make one larger "rotational pasture" style run.
Will it work? OR will all the chickens fight over one of the coops at night with the other one sitting empty?
(Only 12 birds will fit on the roost in each coop. I will be keeping 24 birds.)

Thanks in advance for your wisdom..
ON

 

[thespinningcottage]

Chickens will want their "own" familiar coop at night. We did a similar thing as you but we made sure the two groups (an older established group and a younger set) could go to their own roosts at night. This provides comfort and familiarity. I hope this helps - good luck!

 

[annie3001]

hello.
thats a super question! i cant give you an exact answer! i have a similar issue here too!! we are making an addition to our main coop. now we will have 10 total chickens and one run. i think its going to be just fine. really fine.
are the chickens free ranging? if so, then they are not "stuck" inside coop/run all the time.
they will have some breathing room. (so to speak)
anyways, good question, they might all share one coop, because thats where all the others are? in my case, i have 4 laying hens and 5 week old babies, our additional coop will be blocked by a tiny opening, until all the new girls are bigger and feathered out more.
good luck, and i am certain someone will chime in here.

andrea

 

[kassy68]

OK.. you can rotate who gets let out to range , so an every other day ranging.. or I have found tht they will go back to what they call home.. I hvae 20some hens in one side and some roos and 2 hens and 2 roos on the otherside of my coop.. divided by a wire wall.. both goto their own pens, these 2 hens are newer and last week I let them out for the first time with the roos.. when I went to shut pen doors, they were all where they were sposed to be.. on the second night I had a buff opr go into the wrong side.. but no bigger.. picked her up and put her on her roost.

 

[Organics North]

I am hoping they form "social groups". The 12 hens current hens will be familiar with their coop, and the new chicks once old enough to be let out should be used to their side..
I really want all the birds to range each day and not rotate. Ground that is not frozen and snow covered is less than 6 months a year!
Thanks for your speedy reply.
annie3001,
Each coop has a secure covered 7x7 permanent "run" to get some fresh air any time of the year. I am considering leaving it as 7x14 and letting all the birds share that area too. I am mostly thinking about the birds "free ranging" or ranging in the electro net fenced area and then going back to their perspective coops.
ON

 

[Organics North]

Any more input????? Anyone?
Thanks
ON