two coops or one?

[GoodEgg]

Hello all,

I'm thinking about other options to keep from having to build a huge new coop. I have 7 new standards, and my old coop is pretty much maxed out.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of just building a second smaller coop for the 7, and letting them sleep separate from the first bunch?

I'm wondering if it's likely that someone will want to move house, and I may end up with too many chickens trying to cram themselves into too small a coop.

Failing that, I may try to think of ways to expand the old one, but I can't see it right now.

Of the seven, 5 are buff orp pullets and 2 are straight-run light brahmas that have redder and larger combs that the buff orps, but not too much so ... so I don't know if they are going to be roos or not yet.

My old coop has 19 standard hens and 3 banty hens and 3 banty roos. (When the silly banty hens aren't sleeping in the bushes hidden somewhere.)

Thanks for any input!

trish

 

[mmajw]

I would think that they would all try and cram into one coop to sleep, they like to be together.

 

[GoodEgg]

That's what I was afraid of ...

Sigh ... the old coop is PERFECT for banties. I had to take out the high roosts they loved in there to keep the standards safer. But right now the banty hens sleep in the yard somewhere (I can't find them!) and everyone mixes up the coops during the day, wandering in and out of each other's coops.

I need to find a solution soon. These babies are going to outgrow that dog crate any day now!

Thanks for the reply.

trish

 

[Chirpy]

Build three! That way you can add even more chickens!!

Seriously, it sounds like your new babies have not been mixed in with your flock yet? I would build a second coop for them and give them a separate run area. That will solve the issue of other birds trying to cram into the smaller coop. And, it gives you the option in the future of separating chickens into two flocks if you ever build onto the first coop or add that third coop

. (Does that make sense?)

If they are all going to free range during the day and thus have the option of going into which ever coop they want I'm guessing that the ones that are outside now will continue to use their current (the older) coop. When you put the new chicks out in the new, second coop, lock them up in there for a week and then let them out. I believe they will then always go back to that hen house at night as they will know that as their home.