Will two coops confuse my flock???

[keeko]

Hello all!

I have a flock of 12, and bought a chicken coop and a chicken tractor for them. I bought the tractor primarily for them to have a place to "graze" during the day that wasn't a sand-covered run. I want them to be able to get out and forage, but we have SO many hawks on our property, I wouldn't be able to protect them if they were free-ranging. So I decided a tractor is the best way to go.

I also have their stationary coop, with attached run, set up for them.

My question is: if they spend some nights in their coop, and some nights in their tractor (there are roosts and nesting boxes above), will this confuse them? Do chickens need to have ONE (1) single place to go home to and roost at night, or could they have two? If you're wondering, both the coop and the tractor are secure from predators, so that's not my concern. I was just wondering if they'd get confused as to which is "home" if they have two homes...

Thanks guys!

 

[satay]

As long as they are not free ranging and you are moving then from one spot to the other,I think it would work fine.

 

[annie3001]

I think its okay, however when laying eggs......my chickens would dash (fly) across our yard to go back into their main coop to lay an egg......lay and then carryon outside with the others.

Will your tractor have a spot for egg laying?

I have heard chickens prefer to lay in one spot only....so as to not get them all confused where to lay the eggs.

good luck to you.

p.s.
we have alot of hawks too.... i only free range our larger chickens (not the babies) with me outside with them, if i cant go out and be with them, it is just too risky.

 

[keeko]

Hmm, good point. I hadn't considered their laying habits. But yes, the tractor does have nestboxes, as well as the coop, and both can be in rotation. But I see what you mean...if they were to spend a night in the tractor and want to go back to their stationary coop to lay, I guess that would throw them off...

If only the hawks weren't such a nuisance! We see them constantly, and also have two small dogs (chihuahuas) that people have lost to hawks in our area. They're not more than 7 lbs, which I guess is the same as a large breed hen, so a hawk could easily get them too!

 

[Bantimna]

It will not confuse them. They will most probbaly choose the best coop, and use that as a home.
They could use both but one or the other will become the favorite home.