Coop location question from a soon-to-be chick mom.

[hgottman2]

I'm wondering if you could sort of rotate the whole setup sideways, so that you can see both coop and run from the house, even if it's far away?
Is your husband involved (will he be caring for/is he excited for the chickens), is he neutral (won't be doing anything with them) or does he actively not like them?
If he's looking forward to them/involved with them, and you really care about having it close to the house, then I'd think that he might be willing to sacrifice his late sleeping on the weekends, or sleep with earplugs or something of the like. But if he's not really wanting them or he doesn't really care about them, then having them farther from the house could be the better option.
Also consider: are you going to have an automatic door? It may be far to walk in the morning to let them out if you don't have an automatic door.

My husband will be involved with the chickens, but I will be the main caretaker. If he is annoyed, it will be short lived. He lived near a railroad crossing previously, so I imagine a rooster can’t be much worse than the sound of blaring horns in the middle of the night.

We will have an automatic door, which will take care of the distance. That was one of the reasons I originally started looking at location #1.

Another question — I would like to allow the chickens to free range while I am home. Teacher hours will be helpful as I will be able to monitor them in the afternoons/ while working in my garden during the summer. We have hawks, owls, and eagles in our area, as well as plenty of 4-legged predators. Since I have the space, do you recommend I invest in a significant area that is covered with netting and forego free range?

 

[hgottman2]

My husband will be involved with the chickens, but I will be the main caretaker. If he is annoyed, it will be short lived. He lived near a railroad crossing previously, so I imagine a rooster can’t be much worse than the sound of blaring horns in the middle of the night.

We will have an automatic door, which will take care of the distance. That was one of the reasons I originally started looking at location #1.

Another question — I would like to allow the chickens to free range while I am home. Teacher hours will be helpful as I will be able to monitor them in the afternoons/ while working in my garden during the summer. We have hawks, owls, and eagles in our area, as well as plenty of 4-legged predators. Since I have the space, do you recommend I invest in a significant area that is covered with netting and forego free range?

Fortunately, the circle drive would allow easy access to the coop at any of the 3 locations.

 

[black_cat]

My husband will be involved with the chickens, but I will be the main caretaker. If he is annoyed, it will be short lived. He lived near a railroad crossing previously, so I imagine a rooster can’t be much worse than the sound of blaring horns in the middle of the night.

We will have an automatic door, which will take care of the distance. That was one of the reasons I originally started looking at location #1.

Another question — I would like to allow the chickens to free range while I am home. Teacher hours will be helpful as I will be able to monitor them in the afternoons/ while working in my garden during the summer. We have hawks, owls, and eagles in our area, as well as plenty of 4-legged predators. Since I have the space, do you recommend I invest in a significant area that is covered with netting and forego free range?

Because of the trees, I don't think that you could really see any area (save maybe area two) very well from your house. (again, I haven't been, so could be wrong, but yeah). I think that if you're going to commit to free ranging for a sizable portion of the day, investing in netting could be a good idea (unless you have a stray dog issue, there really aren't many four legged predators during the day) but if you plan to free range under supervision only (like I do) I don't think that it's worth it. Are you able to get internet access when at any of these locations? On nice days, you could probably work while supervising them if you have internet access. (your presence is usually enough to deter hawks without you really doing anything)

 

[Noreaster Egger]

I’d probably lean #1 for shade reasons...it looks like there’s some taller trees there on the south and west side of the circled area. That would block some of the colder westerly winds in the winter as well. Deciduous trees on tue south side would let some filtered light through to the coop and run in the winter as well. Sun to the east isn’t a bad thing in the morning either.

Just my meteorological $0.02.

 

[WthrLady]

#1, 2 and then 3 in that order.
The septic field isn't optimal as I promise your coop will someday be in the way of redigging, or resetting the field. #3 is the perfect spot for a future outbuilding making that pasture/field to use for other things. Your best bet is the #1 area. You are close enough to the house to enjoy them. They have water and power. They have morning sun and afternoon and evening shade. They also have a windbreak during the winter, WHICH IS HUGE. They are also out of the plow zone for snow off the driveway in #1. If they want sun they can wander that way, if they want shade they're good to go.

I'd just make sure to clear out any lower branches for things that can get in the way or be used as a highway for predators.

 

[Brooks_]

#1 for the win. Closest to house and tree cover.

 

[Shezadandy]

Proximity to house is #1. I'm not fond of the crowing first thing either - but think of how you'll enjoy that walk in inclement weather - collecting eggs - dealing with a sick chicken- the list goes on. Also consider ease of unloading and transporting and storing food and disposing manure - and how predator proof you're going to make your set up. I'm neurotic about predators. My run is enclosed with 6ft tall chain link covered top to bottom with 1/2" hardware cloth. The entire thing is netted with 2" aviary netting. Zero losses to predators, but the investment was significant.

I had a hawk dive on a momma hen and her babies when I was less than 10 feet away in plain sight- so in my experience people don't deter hawks. If there was no net/fence, someone would have died and there's nothing I could have done about it. That said ... everyone decides their risk level acceptance for freedom vs. security and their tolerence for finding a pile of feathers and a missing chicken. Fortunately that hawk hit my tight net and bounced off. Tried 3 more times on the way out - bounced each time.

For the coop, overdo ventilation. We put a fan made to be used in the eternal dust created by our feathered friends, and installed a security screen door (like what you put on a front door) opposite the fan for good flow through - it blows into the run, which is another way to help keep the chickens cool. Keeping chickens comfortable in the heat is much more difficult than keeping them warm in winter. Window wise, we went with "hopper" windows, which open up the entire window opening for airflow. Side sliding window and up/down windows block half the opening and of course sun hits the glass ... the hoppers fold horizontally. Their downside is they do take up some room on the inside of the coop, and the chickens will stand on them and poop on them too if they're not blocked off.

 

[tigger19687]

I see the 'Septic" but is that also the area for the Leach field too ?
If you don't NEED a Roo you might want to rethink it if you are worried about hearing it because you Will hear it anywhere lol
Without knowing the pitch of the area it's hard to know.

River.... Remember that Wildlife will go to Water. You will have a higher instance of predators in that area.

While I like 3 for the area, the river says no for me.
So I would say #1