fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[fuzzi]

I'm thinking again...

I originally planned to have my coop/run between the 16' shed and the chain link fence on our property line, mainly because I was going to incorporate the side of the shed as part of the structure. The area is about 14' x 12' so it would mean I'd be limited for future growth. It's the area just to the left in the picture below.

But now that I'm doing a hoop coop I don't NEED the side of the shed.

I could keep the hoop coop where I am doing the panel construction, and add that fourth panel to make the coop/run a total of 16'x9'. It would be BEHIND the shed pictured here, out of sight from the road with a little more room on either side to do maintenance.

The view here is from my side door.

See the chair behind the shed? The hoop coop would be just to the left of it.

Since I'm going to redo the lumber supports using pressure treated boards, I could just as easily (!) get 16' PT 2x4s for the long sides instead of piecing together 12' boards.

Okay all you experts, what do you think?

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm thinking again...

I originally planned to have my coop/run between the 16' shed and the chain link fence on our property line, mainly because I was going to incorporate the side of the shed as part of the structure. The area is about 14' x 12' so it would mean I'd be limited for future growth. It's the area just to the left in the picture below.

But now that I'm doing a hoop coop I don't NEED the side of the shed.

I could keep the hoop coop where I am doing the panel construction, and add that fourth panel to make the coop/run a total of 16'x9'. It would be BEHIND the shed pictured here, out of sight from the road with a little more room on either side to do maintenance.

The view here is from my side door.

See the chair behind the shed? The hoop coop would be just to the left of it.

Since I'm going to redo the lumber supports using pressure treated boards, I could just as easily (!) get 16' PT 2x4s for the long sides instead of piecing together 12' boards.

Okay all you experts, what do you think?

View attachment 3380520

Does either site have any advantage in re: shade, drainage, or convenience for you to care for them?

 

[fuzzi]

Does either site have any advantage in re: shade, drainage, or convenience for you to care for them?

Option 1 (beside the shed)
The place between the shed and the fence is barely 12' wide, so there'd be less than 2' clearance on either side of the coop. Accessing the back would be cramped, but doable.
I would be able to see the front of the coop from the house, and people could see it if they came up my driveway (delivery people).
It would be sheltered on one side (north) by the shed. It would not receive direct sunlight.

Option 2 (behind the shed)
This location is open, lots of room all around. I could make the coop larger in that location. I would not see it from the house, but neither could people on the street or in my driveway. It would be 12' farther back on the property. There would be more air flow. It would receive some filtered sunlight late morning until early afternoon.
I would move it a little more in line with the shed from where it is now, more to the left in this photo. I could also move it 90° into a north-south alignment.

 

[3KillerBs]

Option 1 (beside the shed)
The place between the shed and the fence is barely 12' wide, so there'd be less than 2' clearance on either side of the coop. Accessing the back would be cramped, but doable.
I would be able to see the front of the coop from the house, and people could see it if they came up my driveway (delivery people).
It would be sheltered on one side (north) by the shed. It would not receive direct sunlight.

Option 2 (behind the shed)
This location is open, lots of room all around. I could make the coop larger in that location. I would not see it from the house, but neither could people on the street or in my driveway. It would be 12' farther back on the property. There would be more air flow. It would receive some filtered sunlight late morning until early afternoon.
I would move it a little more in line with the shed from where it is now, more to the left in this photo. I could also move it 90° into a north-south alignment.

View attachment 3380970

Looks like the behind the shed option would be very good with the extra space and being hidden from the road.

 

[fuzzi]

Looks like the behind the shed option would be very good with the extra space and being hidden from the road.

That's what I am thinking.

Is placing the long side of the structure north-south or east-west better, does it make a difference?

 

[3KillerBs]

That's what I am thinking.

Is placing the long side of the structure north-south or east-west better, does it make a difference?

That could depend a lot on local microclimates.

Which direction do your prevailing winds come from?

What time of day does that area get summer sun?

 

[fuzzi]

That could depend a lot on local microclimates.

Which direction do your prevailing winds come from?

What time of day does that area get summer sun?

Not sure about prevailing winds. We've had trees come down during hurricanes, all fell towards the south.

Summer sun behind the shed would be late morning until early afternoon. There are tall hardwood trees along the west side that would filter the sun after noon. There are also tall hardwood trees on the south side (woods) and there are tall cedars on the north side property line. The middle of the backyard does get full sun from about 9am until about 5pm. The coop would be closer to the west and south side.

That particular area has never seemed sunny, might be due to overhanging growth from the woods.

 

[3KillerBs]

There are tall hardwood trees along the west side that would filter the sun after noon. There are also tall hardwood trees on the south side (woods)

That is really EXCELLENT.

 

[fuzzi]

My house is the one on the bottom right, light-colored roof. See how the trees overshadow the yard?

 

[3KillerBs]

View attachment 3381135
My house is the one on the bottom right, light-colored roof. See how the trees overshadow the yard?

Shade is such a blessing in our climate!