Add on to existing coop or just add a second

[Pebbles]

I am new to chickens. My girls and a few roos arrived February 22 they are 8 weeks old tomorrow. I planned for 10 chickens but friends and family said if I wanted to end up with 10 chickens I needed to get 25. Well, I received 28 chicks from McMurrays and only lost 2 the first week. I have 26 sweet chicks and a coop designed for 10. So, do I add on the the existing coop or can I just build another coop big enough for 16 chickens so that between the two coops there is adequate space? The existing coop has 6 nesting boxes. The existing coop is off the ground inside a very secure run of about 250 square feet. I was not sure if two separate coops would be a bad thing. I would prefer to build another coop but bottom line I want to do what is best for my babies.

Thank you all for your help. I am sooo glad I found this form. You guys are all so knowledgable and loving.

 

[azelgin]

I'd build another coop. Might cost you more in the beginning, but worth it in the long run. I have two seperate coops. I bought 25 chicks, then decided it was so much fun I needed more. I built a whole other coop and run. It's nice to have seperate coops for so many reasons. The 2nd one I built is set up so it can be divided in to three seperate areas. I had some roosters, that we were fattening up to butcher in a part of it. Now I have some younger chicks in there. Soon, I'll have a mother hen that is hatching some chicks that can be safe from the rest of the crew. We seperate the different breeds with their own roosters to get hatching eggs in there too. All our chickens free range during the day. They even borrow each others nests and food, but they all go home to their own coops at bedtime.

 

[lilchick]

We built a lean to type addition onto my existing barn.. It is cheaper than building one separate.
You only have 3 sides to put up! And you can even put a walkway or chicken door between them...

 

[kelliepulido]

I think a whole new coop would be good.I was thinking of the same thing and fortunately ended up with another coop that the neighbor is letting me have and it will be better in the long run as the previous poster has stated.i plan on doing the same.

 

[Pebbles]

Thanks for the advice. I will build another coop

 

[DarkWolf]

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Good grief.. Talk about being misinformed. If mortality rates were that high, hatcheries would go out of business.

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Would you be doing a shared run, or two separate runs?

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Personally, I'd build a whole new coop and use the other for storage or whatever. Is it a walk in coop? Turn it into a garden shed..

Also at the original 10 birds, you would have only needed two nesting boxes, so don't build more boxes. 6 will be more than plenty for 26 birds.

 

[LynneP]

I'd build a second space too and include a little 'hospital' mini-coop/brooder in there, walled off but accessible for treating birds. You know, I was told the same thing about survival rates. It's nonsense- unless you receive diseased birds you should have a very high rate of survival.

 

[Pebbles]

Darkwolf you are so right about misinformation. I have had horses for years and I am always amazed at the misinformation out there regarding horses also...I particularly hate the people who see my horses and want to ride..when asked if they know how to treat a horse much less ride they respond..." Oh yeah, I know how to ride, just kick 'em to go and pull back to whoa." Those type don't get near my horses. I am so glad you are all here for advice. I so appreciate everyones willingness to share the knowledge they have gained through experience.

To answer you question the two coops would have a shared run. I think the advice to simply build another coop big enough for all sounds good.

Thank you for your help!!!

 

[Zahboo]

I would build a second one. It allows for smaller flocks which could slow down diseases spreading. My personal opinion though