Two Small Coops vs. One Bigger One

[teamkight]

We are raising 8 chicks that arrived this week, and deciding on a coop. All different breeds, all pullets (hopefully). They will be free-range. There is a local guy who builds a coop for 4-6 that we really like and is priced right, but he only builds the one model so we'd have to buy two coops. On the upside, we'd be able to configure them and move them around the yard, and can separate the broodies/sickies/injured as needed. But will they all naturally crowd into one coop and get testy? Is there anything else we should consider?

Thanks!

 

[subhanalah]

You could cut a hole in two adjoining sides of the smaller coops and bolt them together into 9th big chick-o-minium

 

[teamkight]

that would be cool .... maybe put something like a bridge or hamster tunnel in between!

 

[Ridgerunner]

You can follow the link in my signature to get some of my thoughts on space. One very important thing is not how much space is in the coop but how much space is available in total. This can be in the coop, coop and run, two coops connected, or whatever. The reason you lock them in a coop is to protect them from predators, especially at night. Coops are easier to secure from predators than runs if your run is of any size, though if you are confident your run is truly predator-proof, you don’t need to lock them up.

They will almost certainly want to all sleep in one coop, so one possible solution is to connect the two coops. Make one a pure roosting coop and the other where they lay eggs. You may be able to bolt them together but building a tunnel or safe passage between them may be easier. That way they can securely move from one or the other. Or if they are in a secure run, just leave them open.

One of the ways chickens have learned to live together in a flock is that the weaker runs away from the stronger or avoids them to begin with. If they have room to run or avoid, they normally work things out pretty well. If they are crowded then you can get serious behavioral problems.

 

[subhanalah]

that would be cool .... maybe put something like a bridge or hamster tunnel in between!

After I posted what I did, I thought a wired in tunnel would be really cool.

You can follow the link in my signature to get some of my thoughts on space. One very important thing is not how much space is in the coop but how much space is available in total. This can be in the coop, coop and run, two coops connected, or whatever. The reason you lock them in a coop is to protect them from predators, especially at night. Coops are easier to secure from predators than runs if your run is of any size, though if you are confident your run is truly predator-proof, you don’t need to lock them up.

They will almost certainly want to all sleep in one coop, so one possible solution is to connect the two coops. Make one a pure roosting coop and the other where they lay eggs. You may be able to bolt them together but building a tunnel or safe passage between them may be easier. That way they can securely move from one or the other. Or if they are in a secure run, just leave them open.

One of the ways chickens have learned to live together in a flock is that the weaker runs away from the stronger or avoids them to begin with. If they have room to run or avoid, they normally work things out pretty well. If they are crowded then you can get serious behavioral problems.

I was reading that bullying can be reduced in a containment scenario with "L" shaped areas, breaking the line of site. I think having the two with a tunnel, and maybe a board for a place to hide behind would be a great idea, and add to your available square footage, I'd recommend putting a slant roof on the tunnel, to keep snow out.

 

[teamkight]

What if we started with one and added another down the line? No guarantees we'll end up with eight (though, chicken math) and they won't need as much room when they first transition to the coop ... Or will they?