Coop location

[missmychicks]

We are planning on building our coop in a small stretch of land on our property, but it will end up being only about 6 feet from the outside wall of our house (no doors on that side, south facing). Wondering if this location is too close to the house ? We will have a small flock (eventually only 6 birds, starting with 3 and increasing over time to stagger egg laying). Also, any suggestions for the layout would be helpful- we are in Seattle, so wondering if we should trench/lay gravel etc? The coop will be 6x5, the run 8x8. Will be using hard ware cloth under the run and up the sides, covering the run, plenty of ventilation. **now with pics!!** The wee flags are the rough outline of the coop and run.
TYIA!

 

[DobieLover]

Having it that close to the house is entirely up to you. It will certainly be motivation to keep things clean and dry!
I would make the run larger than that and I would not put the hardware cloth on the bottom of the run. Just put a predator apron around it that extends out about 2 ft. Pin down the outer edges with heavy duty landscape pins and let the grass grow through. That way the birds can dig in the soil as much as they want with no worry of hitting the hardware cloth and injuring their feet.

 

[aart]

6 feet from the outside wall of our house

Is this area a drip line from the roof?

 

[aart]

Looks like the gable end. Drip line shouldn’t be an issue.

Those pics weren't there when I replied...but yeah.

 

[AnnPann]

Will be great for some protection from wind, if you get any. And lots of shade from those trees will be great. Can't tell for sure from the photos, but it looks like its on a slight slope? If so, you might want to solve for drainage up front (diverting any run off around your coop and on out towards the street).

Any concerns about mice/rats find the coop and then their way to your house? Maybe a cat would be a good investment too.

 

[WallyG74]

Is this area a drip line from the roof?

Looks like the gable end. Drip line shouldn’t be an issue.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Any setback restrictions for Seattle? I'm familiar with the county's restrictions which allow for close proximity, but not sure if the city has different ordinances.

Wouldn't bother me to have the chickens in that close but I have double paned windows throughout. If those are bedrooms right there and you have single paned windows, you might not be so happy once the hens start laying lol.

I would not add gravel to the run area itself but depending on drainage at the site, some trenching around the perimeter may help. Looks like it slopes slightly towards the driveway/road which should help with drainage.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thank you- I was thinking about some trenching to encourage it towards the greenbelt on the lower end. But you don't think it needs gravel, sand, mulch? It's so wet here in the winter, I am really concerned about how to keep them as dry as possible.

You will need some form of litter in the run. Gravel is one of the least suitable choices however - although it allows for drainage, it's harder on a chicken's feet and also allows for poop to travel down and start decaying and stinking. Gravel in a trench for drainage is a bit different.

If you have space for a pile of wood chips, that's the best and most economical choice for litter base in PNW coastal areas. Read up on deep litter, that's what I use and what I see most folks in my area using.

Example: after a heavy night of rain, the lawn had noticeable squishy spots and some puddles, but the deep litter in the unroofed run was surface dry enough that I didn't worry about chicks getting chilled or damp.

 

[missmychicks]

Will be great for some protection from wind, if you get any. And lots of shade from those trees will be great. Can't tell for sure from the photos, but it looks like its on a slight slope? If so, you might want to solve for drainage up front (diverting any run off around your coop and on out towards the street).

Any concerns about mice/rats find the coop and then their way to your house? Maybe a cat would be a good investment too.

We just lost our 17 year old kitty, so not sure I am ready for that. Many in my area have suggested a "barn kitty", but we don't have a barn-how do they stay safe from predators and the elements?

 

[AnnPann]

We just lost our 17 year old kitty, so not sure I am ready for that. Many in my area have suggested a "barn kitty", but we don't have a barn-how do they stay safe from predators and the elements?

Awww I'm sorry. I get it. I am currently waiting on one of my barn cat to come home after being gone all week (a long time for him). I don't even really like cats, but he's got my heart.

We don't have a barn either, but we have a small screened in porch that we added a cat door to for our 2 cats. We have pet-safe heat pads we put in their house/bed during cold days/nights. On super cold nights (below zero), they get to sleep in the garage. If they are more feral than tame pets, you can get away with just a cat house/shelter, but any structure like a shed or garage will do. All barn cats need to be fed - they can't survive on hunting alone, and they will still hunt for fun, no matter how well you feed them. Practical info on barn cat care can be found here: https://barncatlady.com