Single Divided Coop Ideas for keeping more than one flock

[Ihall26]

Hi All! I am just beginning my chicken adventures and we are still at coop design phase. I am wanting to plan ahead for the future and wondering if anyone else has a coop that they have divided inside to house two separate flocks that each have their own space and separate run to keep those birds from direct contact with one another for the purposes of temperament? I don't necessarily want to build multiple coops at this point but I am wanting a mixed flock and had hoped to have some Polish chickens in that mix but am learning that it may not be a good idea to put the polish with the other varieties. So, I'm wondering if I should modify my current design plans to incorporate a separate area and run, just get the polish anyway since I am planning to hatch all of these together, or just ditch the idea of having polish in my mix at this point and time and sticking with my current plan? I appreciate any and all feedback and advice!

 

[Folly's place]

Bigger is always better!
My current coop has grown, over many years, from one shed, with an add-n to one side, to a roofed run split into three sections. Overall, it's about 14'x24', with five possible separate sections, which can be open or closed off as we need.
You will like having possible separations, or at least room for big dog crates inside, for either breeding groups, broody hens, new chicks, or whatever.
Depending on your climate, a roof and three walls, with big openings on the south or leeward sides, and very very predator proof, and walk-in height.
Mary

 

[Ihall26]

Thank you and I agree with the bigger being better! I'm just trying to get my husband on board with my "vision" . I feel like the separate area would beneficial even if they all get along. We have a solid coop design, I believe, but just need to work on how to split or divide it to best serve us and prevent issues down the road.

 

[Fluffyflufffluff]

Hi All! I am just beginning my chicken adventures and we are still at coop design phase. I am wanting to plan ahead for the future and wondering if anyone else has a coop that they have divided inside to house two separate flocks that each have their own space and separate run to keep those birds from direct contact with one another for the purposes of temperament? I don't necessarily want to build multiple coops at this point but I am wanting a mixed flock and had hoped to have some Polish chickens in that mix but am learning that it may not be a good idea to put the polish with the other varieties. So, I'm wondering if I should modify my current design plans to incorporate a separate area and run, just get the polish anyway since I am planning to hatch all of these together, or just ditch the idea of having polish in my mix at this point and time and sticking with my current plan? I appreciate any and all feedback and advice!

10 ft x 10 ft = 100 m2 / 4 m2 = 25 chickens. If they don't run outside you have to find even fewer chickens, The minimum rule of thumb is about 2 to 3 square feet per chicken inside the chicken coop, and 8 to 10 square feet per chicken in an outside run.

 

[aart]

Hi All! I am just beginning my chicken adventures and we are still at coop design phase. I am wanting to plan ahead for the future and wondering if anyone else has a coop that they have divided inside to house two separate flocks that each have their own space and separate run to keep those birds from direct contact with one another for the purposes of temperament? I don't necessarily want to build multiple coops at this point but I am wanting a mixed flock and had hoped to have some Polish chickens in that mix but am learning that it may not be a good idea to put the polish with the other varieties. So, I'm wondering if I should modify my current design plans to incorporate a separate area and run, just get the polish anyway since I am planning to hatch all of these together, or just ditch the idea of having polish in my mix at this point and time and sticking with my current plan? I appreciate any and all feedback and advice!

I designed my coop to be able to be split with a temporary wall for raising chicks.
It was a good decision but wish I had made it a bit bigger.
Added a pop door for a separate run later.....that worked out well too.
But chicks are only in there for about 6 weeks, then the wall comes down.

Not sure you need it for the polish issue, if raised together they may be fine.
Always good to have a separate housing if one runs into trouble tho.

Would help to see your coop plans in order to offer viable suggestions.
Oh, and....also...
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Folly's place]

In my coop, the dividers are permanent, some solid, and some hardware cloth, but all with doors that can be either open or closed.
Again, build big! There will be times when your flock will be confined in their safe coop and run for weeks, so plan for that. Minimum square footage will be way too small!!!
Mary

 

[B-Goock]

My previous coop before I moved was all under one roof. Two separate coops & runs, a 4'x8' brooder, and three 4'x8' breeding pens. All my rain water run off went into an insulated & heated 55gal drum with a circulating pump that fed all my waterers and returned back to the drum so the lines wouldn't freeze.

Whatever design you go with go ahead and build it to easily add on. Draw it up with the intention of expansion.

 

[Ihall26]

I designed my coop to be able to be split with a temporary wall for raising chicks.
It was a good decision but wish I had made it a bit bigger.
Added a pop door for a separate run later.....that worked out well too.
But chicks are only in there for about 6 weeks, then the wall comes down.

Not sure you need it for the polish issue, if raised together they may be fine.
Always good to have a separate housing if one runs into trouble tho.

Would help to see your coop plans in order to offer viable suggestions.
Oh, and....also...
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2042439

Thank you for this input. I like the temporary wall idea. I would also be putting in the additional pop door and run on the second side also.
My plans are currently just drawn out on paper by my husband and aren’t exactly “professional”. We know the positioning of the coop and which sides of it will face what direction but the inside plans are still modifiable at this point. We can build up to 12x12 without need for a permit, so likely I will use those as my coop dimensions.
Full size door and probably windows on at least 3 sides.

I will take a look at adding to my profile soon. Thanks for that tip.
We are in Western North Carolina (Black Mountain), so decently cold winters but not weeks and weeks of snow on the ground. Summer days in the 80’s to low 90’s.

 

[aart]

My plans are currently just drawn out on paper by my husband and aren’t exactly “professional”. We know the positioning of the coop and which sides of it will face what direction but the inside plans are still modifiable at this point

That's a good thing to do, old drafter here, especially if you draw it scale using graph paper.
Much easier to make mistakes, and redesigns, in pencil than lumber.

 

[Ihall26]

That's a good thing to do, old drafter here, especially if you draw it scale using graph paper.
Much easier to make mistakes, and redesigns, in pencil than lumber.

Yes, thankfully my husband is gifted with the ability to draw and can draw things to scale. He started off thinking he wanted to do architecture but later went a new direction. What he did learn has been beneficial numerous times!
We will keep working with it and hopefully will have consistently nice enough weather to start working soon enough.