Coop location - do I need to have a visual from the house?

[DaviJones]

I haven't had chickens for a year yet so I haven't experienced the smell in every season. However so far I hardly smell anything, might catch a whiff if I'm in the coop but that's about it. The fly trap I have hanging smells worse and more pungent. I do live in a very dry climate so that probably affects it greatly.

 

[wamtazlady]

Depending on your weather, you will want to keep your coop within a heavy duty extension cord distance from a power source. If you get freezing weather you may want to have a heated waterer and you'll need that power.

 

[Jake H]

Welcome! Everyone has already made good points here.
If you can legally have more than four hens, you will (that chicken math thing)! So plan to have a real structure, not a tiny prefab thing.
In view is best, IMO, but maybe with a game cam it would be doable.
Under the bedroom window would be my VERY LAST choice! Then, I have a lot more birds, and just the noise; roosters at 3am, hens squabbling, no way.
Consider your yard layout, where north is, and how the run will work out there. If you have freezing weather then electricity is almost essential, and it's a good thing to have in the coop anyway.
Pictures might help too.
Mary

Thanks Mary! These may be dumb follow up questions, but Id rather ask now than hrm my birds.
1. Why does North direction matter?
2. I live outside of Baltimore so we definitely have freezing temps, is electricity a necessity? I thought the birds kept themselves warm?

btw, we don't have a bird limit so i see more than 4 in our future! No roosters allowed though...

 

[Folly's place]

You will want your biggest window openings facing south and some to the east, away from prevailing winds, and for winter sunlight.
Birds need unfrozen drinking water! Will you be going out there three times daily to provide unfrozen water? Or smile as you pay a slightly higher electric bill?
Also, laying hens need about fourteen hours of light to continue laying eggs; I have a light out there on a timer, 4am to 8am every morning, so we get some eggs over winter.
It's good to plan ahead, and keep asking those questions; we all have different opinions too!
Mary

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would go with option B. I personally like being able to watch the chickens and it makes it easy to monitor them in bad weather, without having to go outside. C would be my second choice. A is out because even hens will make noise, though they aren't overly loud, and any spot that is all sun is going to make for some toasty chickens.

My chicken run is about 15' from my living room and although I can hear them if they get loud (egg song), there's no smell and very little noise the rest of the time. If you manage it properly there shouldn't be a smell even if you're inside the run, even if the run is soaked in rain.

Do make sure that you are complying with zoning ordinances if any specify distance from buildings or more importantly, your neighbor's lot/buildings. Having to move your set up is not really fun.

 

[Folly's place]

I'd go with 'visible from the house' rather than hidden behind the garage. How about next to the garage?
Mary

 

[Jake H]

Thank you all for the tips! I'm convinced now that I don't want the coop too close to the house, so I think I'll be going with B and put it in the middle of the yard. After some perusing of other coops, I think I'll add a little garden area next to it and make it a little chicken sanctuary so it's not just a coop all by itself in the middle of nowhere.
Next step, get some coop plans that I can build!

 

[lazy gardener]

When you plan your build make it big enough, and TALL enough. If you skimp on floor space, ventilation, or height, you will have birds with frost bite in the winter. And you will have issues with aggression, and possibly respiratory issues. More space = easier to maintain the level of hygiene you want. You might also look into doing deep litter management, especially in your run. A DLM run means NO smell. You will need a minimum of 4 s.f./bird in coop, 1 s.f. of ventilation in coop per bird, 2 - 3' height from floor to roost, roost must be higher than nest boxes, and there must be 18" above roost, and at least 12 - 15" between roost and back wall. Plan on 10 s.f. in run per bird.

I would absolutely NOT put that coop near the bedroom window. I'd opt for your plan B.

 

[Chullicken]

Really personal preference and what your town allows if they have restrictions on such things. For me..mine is 15' from my window so I can sleep at night. I don't worry about them as much with the coop I have..just kind of makes me feel better during storms and such. I can shine a light out, its a closer walk during storms to check on them and just an over all better feeling when I close my eyes.

With a properly built coop and run (If you use a run), you really don't have to worry. Amazingly enough chickens don't need any of those things to thrive and lay eggs, but...we are people and that's what we do. They need a source of water, food, sun, shade, drainage and dirt at a minimal. The smell however resembling a stink grenade up your face holes on occasions..really has a short life span and relatively small radius of stench. Really a well maintained coop and run has a very dull, musty poop smell along with whatever bedding you choose. It's not that bad. So, choose your location that really works for both parties involved would be my two cents.

 

[Chullicken]

P.S. You'll really like RIR's. They can get a little assertive and aggressive with each other, but they are striking to look at and tend to have interesting personalities. A very well rounded, strong bird.