Coop under awning

[DEChickenguy]

Hi All,

I'm planning to build a 4x8 coop with a 10x10 run under an existing awning next to our garage for our six chicks arriving in July. My thought was by doing this I wouldn't have to spend extra on roofing material, and it will also make it easier to run electrical to the coop if needed for wintertime. It does get a fair bit of afternoon sun as it will be south facing, but the run will allow for shade throughout the day. Eventually the hens will free range in the yard once they're acclimated to the coop and run, and our dog. Is there any downside to this design that I'm missing? Layer boxes will be on the north side, further under the awning, so shaded all day. Plenty of breeze comes through the area for adequate ventilation. I'm in Delaware, so winters aren't terribly harsh, and summers usually don't get consistently above 90's

 

[rosemarythyme]

Should work ok. Any photos of the spot you're planning to put the coop/run?

 

[DEChickenguy]

Here’s some photos

the wood pile will be moved, and the coop is going to be elevated to allow for more shade under the coop in the run. The last photo is looking east, so south to the right, and that’s where the human door will be, with the run coming out to the patio pavers and further back under the awning. The bare dirt is just dirt and a smattering of pea gravel

 

[rosemarythyme]

Should work, at least it'll stay dry and with some shade from the sun. Not sure where you're placing the coop but I just wouldn't place it right up against the garage, so you can easily get all the way around it for maintenance if needed.

 

[DEChickenguy]

Should work, at least it'll stay dry and with some shade from the sun. Not sure where you're placing the coop but I just wouldn't place it right up against the garage, so you can easily get all the way around it for maintenance if needed.

Good thought! It’ll be just under the awning and was planning to leave about two feet between it and the garage wall for the reason you mentioned. I’ve also decided today to extend the run into the yard, and further back under the awning so my six girls should have about 160 sq feet of run before being allowed to free range

 

[aart]

Looks like a carport?

Does water run in there at all?

 

[DEChickenguy]

It may have been a carport many years ago, I’m not sure. The roof runs from the garage (aka woodshop, or as my wife likes to call it, my mistress) toward the back entrance of our house. We put patio pavers under about 10 feet of it up to the house and out to the gate to our driveway several years ago to make a sheltered porch like area for entertaining. The first photo in my previous post you can see the privacy fence behind the hanging kayak and beyond that is the driveway. There are footers under the 4x4 posts supporting the roof and one is dated ‘49. House was built in ‘47 so I assume its almost original to the garage.

As far was water goes, no, none comes in unless we have a hurricane, and that’s fairly infrequently here in Delaware. Soil here is a loamy sand so water holding capacity is very low. I’ve only seen ponding on this property once and that was after a 10 inch rain in 12 hours. I should add the roof over this area is metal.