mixed 'avery/coop' query

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Hi all - I'm new to the forum as just wanted to pick some brains!

We currently have 2 chickens in a large coop (2.5mx2m and 6ft high). However we are thinking of building a new coop in our side garden which will be significantly bigger - about 3 times the size. We would like to keep a variety of birds in there but i just wanted to check they will mix ok!
We want:
some ornamental breeds of chicken - orpingtons, silkies etc - about 4 in number
ducks - i like indian runners, my OH likes appleyard - would we need 2 of each or can we have 1 of each?
golden pheasant
plus a guinea pig, a dwarf lop rabbit and some finches!!

I know it would lokk beautiful for us, but it needs to be a happy environemtn for them too - we are using a shed as a coop with a top and bottom area for hens and rabbit etc respectively. The flying birsda will have thick branches secured across pen for perches and nest boxes up high. On the ground we are planning on doing lots of planting, shrubs, herbs and other chicken proof plants - as well as duck pond.

What do you think? will it work? thanks
 
I wouldn't recommend keeping the furries with the birds. two reasons, parasites(especially fly strike) as chickens tend to attract flies! secondly, some chickens will go for furries/rodents etc... they are omnivores and when hungry or broody will attack and kill.

As for the birds being kept together, as long as there is enough space and height for the finches, I don't see any reason why not. other than again, parasite control and quarantine management. Seems like a lot of work...

animals aren't really artwork. they are animals and are not just there to look beautiful. they have needs, they need space and more than just a shed for all of those animals. it's a bit selfish if you ask me to have them all cooped up...

p.s. there is no such thing as a chicken proof plant. especially with that many birds/animals in one space.

just my personal opinion though.
 
Don't like the idea of birds pooing on the hens. Would expect the hens to attack the furries and once blood is drawn eat them. 15 square metres run with no free ranging is good for 4 Orpingtons and that's it in my opinion. We have 8 Wyandottes in 30 square metres as we found any more and we had feather pecking problems. You can have smaller runs but the birds get very stressed over time. A perch helps a bit but we had 10 Orpingtons in 10 square metres and they hated it. All ours free range for part of the day.
 
thanks for your posts - interesting that the furries may be seen as prey - i hadnt thought of that! Might just go for the birds alone then, dont want a horror show! `
 
centralpark said:
thanks for your posts - interesting that the furries may be seen as prey - i hadnt thought of that! Might just go for the birds alone then, dont want a horror show! `
Click to expand...

To be honest any animal in a small space with a bunch of chickens can be seen as prey. Including the finches if there is not sufficient space, activity and entertainment for them.
 
Not sure about the ducks, either - I've never kept them, so am quite ignorant, but the small pond would need emptying frequently, and this would make an awful muddy mess in the run for the other poultry. Also would ducks need a separate house for roosting? I do know they don't roost on perches like chickens do. Maybe divide the run and have one half for ducks, one for chickens, and make separate, suitable accomodation elsewhere for the other kinds of animals you are hoping to keep?
 
i did have rabbits in with chickens for a while but only because the rescue and needed somewhere quick, they freeranged the garden so no probs, its not great though.
i do have ducks chickens bantams and untill last week a guinea fowl who were quite happy to coexsist.
my ducklings insist on sleeping with molly (orpington) and the guinea fowl used to sleep in there to (a cat basket) they choose were they sleep as long as safe
4 diffrent breeds of chickens normaly ok best putting together when quite young they squabble less.
no plant is safe from chooks ducks rabbits.
ducks make every thing muddy
 
I would either turn your space into a Rabbit/Guinea Pig only run, A poultry pen, with mixed breeds of chickens perhaps, or even a pheasant aviary, a duck pen, or a mixed aviary for foreign finches.
I wouldnt mix any of the species you list unless I had a Vast Regents Park ' Snowdon Aviary' set up!
 
Agree with above.
Did have a rabbit in a hutch once, but her companion died, and this coincided with a determined fox attacking my chickens and killing all but my favourite welsummer. The rabbit and the hen were lonely, and when i let the hen into the rabbits enclosure to see what would happen, they became firm friends! :D
 
I don't want to sound like a total d*ck, but for me if you don't know exactly how to go about it already and are confident in caring for all the above animals, really it's probably best you start with one at a time and just enjoy them for a couple years before you add a new breed/species. But this is just me being very blunt, if you don't know what to do, you shouldn't be doing it. It's a lot of work and a lot of responsibility, the furries alone are a lot to look after. if you ever want to go on holiday, or if you become ill? are you confident they will be ok?
 
I don't think such a mixture would remain a thing of beauty for long either. Plants could not survive and the mud and mess from the ducks would turn it into a mire quite quickly.
 
Looks like the verdict may be unanimous! :D Look forward to hearing which direction you decide to go...I am sure it will be lovely! :-)17
 
I certainly wouldn't have any rabbits in with chickens (or ducks)! They suffer from enough different diseases without having the added problem of catching something from the poultry. They all have different needs and need to be housed separately.
 
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