Brain surgery is only complicated if you want to do it right. Coops are harder. (kidding)
Most folks who get started with birds are not aware of all the factors related to poultry husbandry, so they are never considered and likely as not, the birds suffer because of it. That you are even aware of it already puts you miles ahead of most.
Facing south and being up high on a south facing slope on well drained soils are the goals whenever possible, al least if you are located far enough north such that winter temps are a factor.
Facing south lets in winter sun and light and helps block cold winter winds from the north and west. Coops located on a north facing slope don't get as much sun (some may not get any) and are exposed to brutal north winter winds and thus become cold, miserable places for birds in winter. Putting windows on the south is what allows winter sun to permeate into the coop. Winter sunlight means winter eggs and is warmer. Up high on well drained soils means the coop and surrounding area will also be dry. Putting birds in a wet mud hole almost guarantees they will do poorly and suffer doing it.
In almost no circumstance do you need insulation. This runs counter to what most assume. What you do want is ventilation and lots of it..........if the size and design allow it, some will even knock out the entire south wall. Dry birds are warm birds, and well ventilated is dry. The moisture is created by the birds themselves and needs to have a place to go other than by condensing inside the coop. Birds have feathers and can manage really well in freezing temps, provided the dry, well ventilated coop does not have drafts of such extent that those feathers are ruffled at night while on the roost. So most ventilation needs to be away from the roosts to avoid drafts and lots of air movement under and through the roosts. The farther north you are, the trickier ventilation becomes, but you still want it and lots of it.
Put your door on either the south or east sides. Again, winter winds. Part of that is also dictated by the coop design which when winter winds and winter sun are considered, likely has the low walls on the north and highest walls on the south. Due to coop size, the high south wall may be the only one tall enough to fit a door. Near the south wall on the east side is a popular place.
Lastly, for protection from predators, which are everywhere, make your coop tight. Fort Knox tight. Durable materials and no residual openings any larger than 1 square inch. Maybe even smaller if rats and weasels are issues in your area. If you don't account for predators, which are determined to wipe you out, all else is moot. Unless your coop is predator proof it will be empty so whatever you built won't matter. Later on, if you want to yard or free range your birds, you can work on a secure perimeter, but above all else, the coop they spend their nights in must be Fort Knox tight or nothing else matters.
I guess I have to take in to account direction for everything. The south side of the coop would face my house. So Im wondering where the best placement of my door, chicken doors, windows that open and close and vents would be and how many/ how big should the vents be and also what is the best way to insulate - I really would like to have 2 silkies in my group
