Is Two Small Coops Sharing One Connected Run an Option for Adding More Chickens?

[jkarchner65]

I'm new to the group and trying to figure things out to make sure I spend my money wisely. I'm thinking of starting off with four hens and I have currently have a coup that is 16 square feet with another 40 square feet in the attached run. If I want to add four more hens to the flock in the future, rather than buying/building a new larger coup to accommodate eight hens, can I add another 16 square foot coup and connect it to the same run (which I would double size)? Will they learn to split up on their own each evening or will this just lead to all of them attempting to roost in one coup?

 

[neo71665]

The flock will want to roost together and overcrowd one coop.

 

[junior67]

I'm new to the group and trying to figure things out to make sure I spend my money wisely. I'm thinking of starting off with four hens and I have currently have a coup that is 16 square feet with another 40 square feet in the attached run. If I want to add four more hens to the flock in the future, rather than buying/building a new larger coup to accommodate eight hens, can I add another 16 square foot coup and connect it to the same run (which I would double size)? Will they learn to split up on their own each evening or will this just lead to all of them attempting to roost in one coup?

I have a thread basically asking this. I got some good advice on my thread. I will try to link it here. But I was told it was doable.

 

[sourland]

It may or may not work. Chicks raised in the second coop may continue to use that coop or they may join with the other flock. If serious problems arise, you could always separate the two runs.

 

[junior67]

Thread 'questions on 2 coops with a shared run' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/questions-on-2-coops-with-a-shared-run.1566903/