Can you Advise me on coop placement?

[chfriedmam]

Hi! We are building a new coop and we are going BIG! I just knocked down an old shed in our yard. I am going to pour 2 12'x8' concrete slabs in opposite far corners of my backyard, 1 for a new shed, 1 for a coop. Now, I was planning on putting the coop on the SOUTH side of our yard, because we are going to build a chunnel to the run area and that is closest. It's also kind of where we had our chickens before so it seemed right. BUT, and you will see in the pics, the south side is basically always in shade and the NORTH side is always in sun. So while I was prepping the ground for the concrete guy I started questioning myself and thinking maybe make the North side the coop and build a longer chunnel???

Normally sun would be better, but we are in inland Southern California and 1) it is not humid and 2) heat is our chickens' main enemy. Also, after all this building that extra chunnel might be the last straw that drives me crazy...

Take a look at my pics and tell me what you think. The wall on the South side is yucky looking bc there has been a steel shed up against it for probably 30 years that just came down 2 days ago. THANKS!!

PS, There was a cute little tree trapped behind the shed! and those buildings near potential coops are just garages/sheds of neighbors.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Shade is better, especially in hotter climates. Chickens really only need ambient light to lay, not direct light. I assume no drainage issues in the shady spot?

 

[3KillerBs]

Shade in a hot climate, for sure.

 

[chfriedmam]

Shade is better, especially in hotter climates. Chickens really only need ambient light to lay, not direct light. I assume no drainage issues in the shady spot?

Ya I don't think there will be drainage issues. it will be on concrete, we never had drainage issues on our last coop that was 15 feet over, and we only get about 8" of rain a year...

Thanks. That's where I want to put the coop, but I didn't want to do the wrong thing!

 

[aart]

Ya I don't think there will be drainage issues. it will be on concrete, we never had drainage issues on our last coop that was 15 feet over, and we only get about 8" of rain a year...

Have they poured the concrete yet?
Have them slope it so it drains away from all sides.
Especially if part of the concrete will stick out past the sides of the coop.

 

[chfriedmam]

Have they poured the concrete yet?
Have them slope it so it drains away from all sides.
Especially if part of the concrete will stick out past the sides of the coop.

Ill check but I think that's standard, plus those cuts that keep it from cracking also drain. But there shouldn't be water much. We are leaving an area flush open at the door (a removable board) so we can hose/disinfect out the coop and sweep out the water. Plus tons of cross ventilation.

 

[chfriedmam]

Ok, can I ask another question? This is about pop door placement. Any reason I can't place my pop door under my roosts as long as there is a plywood "floor" between them? Roosts are gonna be set at 4 feet high. This looks crowded, but coop is 8ft wide.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ok, can I ask another question? This is about pop door placement. Any reason I can't place my pop door under my roosts as long as there is a plywood "floor" between them?

No real reason you can't. You don't technically even need a "floor" to divide them, though if that's going to be a poop board that'd work to prevent the chickens from walking through their poop on the way in and out of the coop all the time.

 

[chfriedmam]

No real reason you can't. You don't technically even need a "floor" to divide them, though if that's going to be a poop board that'd work to prevent the chickens from walking through their poop on the way in and out of the coop all the time.

ty, I just don't want a draft under their butts, although I guess the door is shut at night...

 

[rosemarythyme]

ty, I just don't want a draft under their butts, although I guess the door is shut at night...

Yup. Now if your plan is to NOT shut the pop door (i.e. you feel that your run is predator proof enough) then draft could be an issue, however in your climate it'd be unlikely to be a problem.