Coop/Run under pine trees

[April Way]

Can anyone tell me if there is a reason I shouldn't put my chicken coop and run under pine trees? I have a large area (10'x12') behind my shed that is being unused and would make a great fenced in area. I just don't know if the pine tree is a problem. I do plan on raking the area frequently to avoid sticky sap and limit droppings. I have 2 Cochins and I want to keep those fuzzy legs clean.

 

[Judy]

I don't see why not. Some people use pine straw as litter.

 

[Life is Good!]

As one who has a brick patio underneath 3 mature (80'+ tall) pines, I have a word of advice...
Love pine needles being tracked EVERYWHERE.

Pine trees shed their needles in the early springtime (Feb/March) here in Illinois. It's just after the snow melts usually - and the rains begin. This year, we had a torrential rainstorm system that deluged us for nearly 3 weeks - in those 3 weeks, we had more pine needles on the patio than we've ever had before. I think the rains dropped them straight down, instead of the wind blowing them away.

We collected 10 wheelbarrows full of pine needles from those trees this year. And the needles are everywhere - inside, outside, in your shoes, in the laundry machines, in every carpet, crack in wood floor....you name it, I've found needles in it (even in the just washed laundry in the dryer!). Yes, I'm still finding needles at the end of June!

I have our coop underneath a pair of maple trees. While the shade is terrific, it did mean that the girls dug up the grass within one season. It's now completely mud. So I'm building them some raised beds (2x4's) with some wooden lattice over it (so the beaks cannot get completely to the ground) to re-plant some grasses in it. Hopefully, that will work to give them some green stuff again. I'm tired of them escaping their run to get to grass! I understand the need and am trying to fulfill it!

Being under the trees does make for great shade for the girls. The coop rarely gets very warm because it's next to the trunk of one of the trees. Since our tree looses it's leaves, the winter sun helps warm the coop a bit. But not the summer sun thanks to the cover from the tree!