Two coops, one run?

[HenryHughes]

I'm trying this as well. However I have different circumstances I think. Originally I had one coop with 3 chickens. Now I'm adding 10. The first 4 I waited till they were old enough to stay outside and then put them in a nursery type enclosure in the run of the original coop. The other 6 are all too old to be outside, 2 will be ready in about 2 weeks, the others 6 or so. So now I'm extending my run out and then adding a coop to the extension. My plan is to introduce the 4 pullets into the original coop and then have the other six live in the new coop. To achieve this I'm going to keep the runs separated by wire after I let the first 4 out of the nursery. Then I'm going to put the other six pullets live in the extended run plus coop. Once they're big enough to join the flock I'm going to remove the wire completely. Hopefully since the seven in the old coop are used to their coop they won't kick the others out and I'll have one flock with assigned sleeping. I'll post if this works.

 

[FarmerVal]

This is a very similar situation! Please let me know how it works out

 

[HenryHughes]

Will do! Actually I am almost finished wiring the second run/coop right now!

 

[BlooRooster]

I don't understand here. If all the chickens share an undivided run, what's to keep them from piling up in the same coop at night? Which is what I think would happen. This would defeat the purpose of 2 coops.

 

[annie3001]

i sort of have the same idear. except i extened our main coop by adding a new coop/// then i added another run right next to my existing run. with in the middle an area that i will be evenutally able to join all my chickens together. sounds confusing... heres a link to the photo.

the door to the left is the new run for my baby chicks... and the door was shut completely...please excuse the pic.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Quote:
Basicly you raise them in one coop. When they are old enough to turn out with everyone else, they will know which coop is theirs and return there at night.

My OEG hens go in the "big girls" coop to lay but return to their to roost at night.

My chicks will have a "playpen" into the main coop from their coop where the older ones will get to know them. When they are bigger, I will turn them out into the main run.