Why do my chickens all cram into one coop to sleep when there is another coop almost empty?

[perchie.girl]

if it hasnt been said yet Sleeping in the nest boxes is a bad idea. They windup pooping in the nest box... Bad dirty eggs later on.

Roost should be higher than the nest box and each bird needs about a fooot of roosting space. so eighteen feet of roosting space. They may not use it all but it keeps squabbgles down when they get to be about five pounds each.... a bit of an exaggeration but you understand what i am talking about. You need a bigger coop. or an expansion.

 

[perchie.girl]

ten by ten is not too big even if you have only one bird. Part of that space can be used as storage for feed and supplies. and will allow you to work even in bad weather.

In my case That would be a dusty windy day and temps around 105

 

[perchie.girl]

Oh and four birds had me with eggs coming out of our ears... Just easter eggers... each one layed about five eggs a week... Thats twenty eggs.... TWo people even if they eat eggs will every meal will be having quite a few extras by the end of the week.

lol... Unless you are like me I get em because they are silly looking or decided to go broody and hatch out a bizillion Chickletts. That was after I moved out of the city.

But dang there is nothing cuter than a fiesty bantam hen with a troup of chickes teaching them how to be chickens.

deb

 

[aart]

but I fear it is far too big at 10 x 10 for 8birds

No WAY!!

 

[rod5591]

View attachment 1574343 Wanted to show the progress on the permanent chicken house. Half of the sub floor is done, the rest can be finished tomorrow. It is a lot of work!

I am in middle Tennessee. You know, I was scornful at first of the Chinese chicken coop but I have to admit, it keeps them dry and sheltered at night, while they sleep, and they go back in the daytime to lay their legs. I think the key is, they only sleep in it, and have much room to freerange from dawn till dusk.

another problem I am having is my free range flock of 18 birds are tearing up and killing my back yard, with their chicken behavior. When I get the new coop built, I am going to fence them into a suitable run and restore my damaged yard.

 

[perchie.girl]

lol i always said that who needs goats when you have chickens.... For brush hogging....

LOL goats are theier own entertain ment though....

deb

 

[aart]

Wanted to show the progress on the permanent chicken house. Half of the sub floor is done, the rest can be finished tomorrow. It is a lot of work!

It is, but you're going to love it when it's done.
I've been watching your build here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/thoughts-about-the-foundation-of-my-hen-house.1275265/