- Apr 20, 2019
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Hello everyone. I'm planning on building a couple of new coops soon and want some opinions from experienced breeders before I get started. I currently only have one breed, RIR, that I am planning on breeding, but there are a few more breeds I have my eyes on for the future. So, I want to build these pens with the future expansion of my breeding program in mind. I've been thinking it over a lot, and I seem to have a good plan, but I'm not sure if all the different pens are a bit excessive, so I'd like all your opinions!
Current coop: Our current chicken coop is about 730 sq ft, and currently has 60 hens and 5 roosters. I don't plan on keeping my breeding hens in here, but it could act as a backup housing option if needed. It will also serve as a retirement space for hens and special roosters. These chickens are all free range.
Breeding coops: I plan to start with two of these, 6 x 6 ft each. They will be up off the ground with large runs attached. There will be max 10 chickens in there, probably less. They will only be kept in there during the breeding season/warmer months. As I expand, I plan to build more of these.
Winter coop: We have long, very snowy and cold winters where I live, and I also live on a hill, so add an absolutely horrible wind chill on top of that, and it can be quite miserable. That being said, I don't want to leave them in the breeding coops year-round as I don't feel they would be protected enough. Also, I have no way to get power out there easily, so I would have to deal with multiple frozen waterers. I have space in our old cow barn to build a large coop to keep them over the winter. I would also have easy access to power for a heated waterer. This coop would be 12 ft wide, and I could go as long as I want. I'm currently thinking maybe 30-40 ft. It would primarily be used just for hens during the non-breeding season. I might keep some hens in there year-round that I am not currently using. They'd have access to a large outdoor fenced-in area.
Brooder/growout pen: I'd like to have a large brooder that can be sectioned off and can grow with the chicks. I'm imagining it split into 4 sections. I'd start with just one section, and as the chicks grow, I'd remove the dividers. I'd like it big enough that I could raise different sets of chicks in it at once as well. I'm not exactly sure how I want to build this yet, so if anyone has done something similar, I'd love to see pictures! I'd also like it to be connected to the winter coop, so the chicks and adults can see each other to make later introductions easier. Over the winter months, when I'm not raising any chicks, I'd like to design the brooder so that I can use it as part of the winter coop.
Roo coop: This coop would be for all of my roosters. Primarily a growout pen for before they are sold or butchered, but will also house my breeding roos. I still need to put more thought into where and how I want to build this.
Individual/pair pens: I'm planning to build these as 2 x 3, or maybe 3 x 3, or 4? They would be used for breeding when I want to know the exact parentage. They could also serve as isolation pens for sick/injured chickens and extra brooders if needed. I plan to start with four, I'm thinking they would be stacked, two on the bottom and two on top. I can easily add more if needed.
So, I guess my main questions are: What would you build? Does this sound like a good plan? Anything you would change? I know I'm probably overthinking this, but with the amount of time/money I will be putting into it, I want to build something that works well!
TLDR: Breeders, what is your ideal coop setup?
Current coop: Our current chicken coop is about 730 sq ft, and currently has 60 hens and 5 roosters. I don't plan on keeping my breeding hens in here, but it could act as a backup housing option if needed. It will also serve as a retirement space for hens and special roosters. These chickens are all free range.
Breeding coops: I plan to start with two of these, 6 x 6 ft each. They will be up off the ground with large runs attached. There will be max 10 chickens in there, probably less. They will only be kept in there during the breeding season/warmer months. As I expand, I plan to build more of these.
Winter coop: We have long, very snowy and cold winters where I live, and I also live on a hill, so add an absolutely horrible wind chill on top of that, and it can be quite miserable. That being said, I don't want to leave them in the breeding coops year-round as I don't feel they would be protected enough. Also, I have no way to get power out there easily, so I would have to deal with multiple frozen waterers. I have space in our old cow barn to build a large coop to keep them over the winter. I would also have easy access to power for a heated waterer. This coop would be 12 ft wide, and I could go as long as I want. I'm currently thinking maybe 30-40 ft. It would primarily be used just for hens during the non-breeding season. I might keep some hens in there year-round that I am not currently using. They'd have access to a large outdoor fenced-in area.
Brooder/growout pen: I'd like to have a large brooder that can be sectioned off and can grow with the chicks. I'm imagining it split into 4 sections. I'd start with just one section, and as the chicks grow, I'd remove the dividers. I'd like it big enough that I could raise different sets of chicks in it at once as well. I'm not exactly sure how I want to build this yet, so if anyone has done something similar, I'd love to see pictures! I'd also like it to be connected to the winter coop, so the chicks and adults can see each other to make later introductions easier. Over the winter months, when I'm not raising any chicks, I'd like to design the brooder so that I can use it as part of the winter coop.
Roo coop: This coop would be for all of my roosters. Primarily a growout pen for before they are sold or butchered, but will also house my breeding roos. I still need to put more thought into where and how I want to build this.
Individual/pair pens: I'm planning to build these as 2 x 3, or maybe 3 x 3, or 4? They would be used for breeding when I want to know the exact parentage. They could also serve as isolation pens for sick/injured chickens and extra brooders if needed. I plan to start with four, I'm thinking they would be stacked, two on the bottom and two on top. I can easily add more if needed.
So, I guess my main questions are: What would you build? Does this sound like a good plan? Anything you would change? I know I'm probably overthinking this, but with the amount of time/money I will be putting into it, I want to build something that works well!
TLDR: Breeders, what is your ideal coop setup?
