chickens and sun?

[Keene's coop]

i know chickens need light, but do they need direct sun light on them? cuz my husband will not let me put my coop in the sun. says he doesn't want a big ugly coop in the middle of the yard, which it will not be. it will be off to the side in the back corner. he wants it up against the garage where the only time it get sun is late afternoon from may-august. other wise no sun. what are your thoughts on this?

 

[Rocky Top Chick]

Mine love to be in direct sunlight so they can sunbathe. They will spread their wings, lay on their side and just chill out.

 

[flockof4]

Mine love sun and they also enjoy shade, too. They should have access to both.

 

[the4heathernsmom]

Mine have about half and half and seem to enjoy the sunlight they get at mid day but not so sure they have to have it.

 

[elmo]

How hot does it get in the summer where you are? Chickens tolerate cold much better than they tolerate heat, and sometimes coops can get very hot (like ovens) in the summer sun. In the winter time, though, the extra heat from sun is often much appreciated.

 

[Keene's coop]

it can get into the 90's here. but where my husband wants it, it's mostly shade. but with it being a little over 5 ft wide and i'm putting it at least a foot away from garage, at least a foot to a foot and a half will be in the sun. it is a pertty good spot, i just thought they needed alot of sun. but maybe they'll be ok with more shade than sun. thanks everyone

 

[TXmom]

My chickens tend to hang out in the shade more than the sun...they free range and have access to both. I wish my coop was more in the shade to cool it off, chickens definitely don't appreciate the summer heat.

 

[gryeyes]

I built the coop itself in the shade. (It gets REALLY hot here a lot more than it gets chilly, even with the Delta Breeze.) But the run has plenty of un-shaded area. So, I have a yard umbrella up in the run, too. Yah, kinda funky, but it does provide more shade - I have it shading the waterers.

 

[Keene's coop]

thank you everyone