Coop Placement - Sun, Part-shade, or Wooded Backyard?

[marybogue]

I have all these above options for coop placement, and was wondering what is best for chickens? How much sunlight is enough - or too much? All advice WELCOMED, pretty please!

 

[GRAM49]

Hi,
I'm no expert, can only go by our own experience. They need shade of some sort, don't know about all shade since I don't know what your climate is like. I live in N. Central IN and it gets pretty hot in the summer. My outside area is not shaded naturally so we have a tarp over half the pen. This also protects them from rain if they happen to be out and it comes up a shower. What my chickens dislike the most is the wind, they hate the wind. So we try and put some plywood pieces at one corner to form a protection. Good luck.
Gram

 

[marybogue]

Thank you! We are in North Carolina, so it can get very hot during the summers.

 

[NeeleysAVLChicks]

Howdy neighbor, where in NC are you?

I've had both full sun and nearly completely shaded coops and I prefer one with full sun and then provide your own shade (ie, cover part of the run, etc). Full sun will help keep your run from turning into a complete mudhole in the spring and winter.

 

[marybogue]

Quote:
Well hello! We are in Gastonia, just west of Charlotte.

Thanks for the input. I have my eye on a sunnier part of the yard right now. It is kind of close to our fence, so I was thinking of adding some privacy hedges there. I only have 4 girls, though.