Location of coop and run

[Kidwantschickens]

Hey everyone. Looking for tips because I need to get this coop started this week. I'm debating where to put it. I'd rather it be outside my fenced yard but that feels less safe. I also want to run it against my chain link fence. Would it be safe to have chain link be one side of the run, especially when the other side is the fenced in side, not like I expect anything but my dog to be on the inside.

I did notice some holes under the big fence that blocks our development from the farmer's field.... Not sure if they're fox or gopher holes. Will take a picture and send to my dad tonight to get his input. Otherwise my biggest fear is neighborhood dogs.

Photo shows my kid where I want to put the coop. Then run the run down to the gate so we can let them loose in the back yard (occasionally)

 

[Farmgirl1878]

Depending on what types of predators you have, I’d fence in the entire covered run, from the roof line down to about a 12” to 15” skirt under the topsoil, with hardware cloth. If you’ve got diggers, no matter what they are, they’ll get into the run at some point. And, since you‘re right out in the open there, I’d definitely design your coop and run so that you can wrap it in the winter with heavy weight clear plastic sheeting or shower curtain liners to keep the win, rain, and snow out. One helpful suggestion that I wish I’d thought of is to design the coop and run so you can EASILY wrap it. Mine is not fun to wrap and I wish I’d made it so I could have just attached square frames with the plastic already attached to the sides of the run. (Like having storm windows!)

Here‘s my setup. It’s tall enough for me to stand up inside, has a sloped roof to keep the snow and ice from building up, and is completely covered.

One other thing to consider about the chain link fence is that it’s not tall enough for you to easily get inside to clean unless you raise the side wall.

Oh, and what’s the direction of the winds during the Summer? You’ll definitely want your house to be upwind of the chicken yard!

 

[3KillerBs]

As a general rule, it's better to put your chicken facility in an area with good natural shade -- because heat bothers them more than cold. But when you don't have shade you have to make shade for them with generous roof overhangs on the coop and either a roof or some form of shade structure in the run.

There's nothing inherently wrong with incorporating the chainlink into your run, but it's wise to add a layer of hardware cloth over it because small predators like weasels and pests like rats go right through the chainlink openings.

 

[Sally PB]

Like they say, location, location, location. Here's what I have learned about it. The first two apply to everyone, the last one might not apply.

1. Safety and comfort for the chickens. Safety from predators of any kind: digging, flying, running, and microscopic (AI is a really hot topic right now). Shade, as @3KillerBs just mentioned. Protection from wind and weather.

2. Convenience for the caregivers. Electricity if you want it. Tall enough to stand in. Close enough to walk to easily in crappy weather. Any other convenient modification that will help you do your job.

3. Aesthetics. This might not apply, but some people need to make sure their coop/run isn't objectionable to the neighbors, or other household members. This includes any smell as well as appearance.

 

[Kidwantschickens]

Yes aesthetics matter. Sadly. I'm probably pushing it to have chickens. I think our HOA says we can't but I also know of another house in the neighborhood that does, and they don't seem to enforce any rules. (And legally they can't pick and choose so it is a battle I'm willing to face). That said, if it's an eye sore or smelly it might cause complaints. There is nothing behind my house and there never will be. It is owned by the county. So, the wind always blows in that direction and the smell will go away from other houses.

My kids can get under the 4'run area, and I was planning to make it slightly moveable for major cleanings. I was planning hardware cloth all around except the chain link side.

There is not a stitch of shade on my property. That says, wind is my biggest issue so the house would provide some shade from afternoon heat and also some wind protection, but not much.

Great points on something to put in place for the winter. That should be interesting. We don't get much snow (usually) but we get a crap ton of wind and cold nights. I think I have mostly cold hearty breeds, the polish is the only exception. I will see what I can do about providing extra shade in run. Maybe an 8x8 section that's covered and an 8x8 section that is covered with wire.


Not that I have a wildlife camera out, but the only wildlife I've ever seen in our area are antelope and even then rarely on my side of the big fence (although they were right there yesterday and the kids chased them off so the dog wouldn't run after them. Lol) that is the first time in 3 years that has happened. 3 other times they have been across the road in the neighbors lawn, in ,3 years I call that rare. But usually there are a ton out in the farmers field.

At one point there was a mountain lion about 2-3 miles away, but our fish and game is good about taking care of that, bears haven't been an issue. It IS Montana, so we do have predators but according to the local farm store most people don't have issues keeping chickens. Raccoons don't seem to have a population, she said we don't have mink. A lot of the eagles have gotten the mice/weasels/prairie dogs in our area. So fox are the biggest concern.

 

[Kidwantschickens]

How warm does it need to be to put 4 week olds out? I need them out of my garage or and they're out of room!!!

 

[gtaus]

Yes aesthetics matter. Sadly. I'm probably pushing it to have chickens. I think our HOA says we can't but I also know of another house in the neighborhood that does, and they don't seem to enforce any rules.

From the picture, it looks like you are way out in the country. How is it that you have to deal with an HOA?

That said, if it's an eye sore or smelly it might cause complaints. There is nothing behind my house and there never will be. It is owned by the county. So, the wind always blows in that direction and the smell will go away from other houses.

I have my chickens in my backyard, but I have never had any smells from the coop or run. I use dry deep bedding in the chicken coop and converted my chicken run into a chicken run composting system. Never any offensive smells from keeping chickens. I might add, if you have some offensive smells from your backyard flock, then something is wrong with your setup and you need to make adjustments.

As far as an eye sore, I guess that's totally up to you and what you build. If you have HOA rules that might bite you down the road, I might suggest you look into doing a metal garden shed conversion to chicken coop. If your HOA jumps on you for having chickens somewhere down the line, at least you could convert the chicken coop back into a garden shed.

As much as I love my chicken coop, it will only ever be a chicken coop. If I had to rebuild today, especially with current lumber prices, I think I would go the metal garden shed conversion option.

 

[rosemarythyme]

How warm does it need to be to put 4 week olds out? I need them out of my garage or and they're out of room!!!

Are they weaned off heat? How warm is it where they're currently at, vs out in the coop?

Well feathered 4 week olds that have been acclimated to outside temps can easily be out around mid 40s (I don't have lower temps to test when I have chicks).

Other option is to put them out with a heat source in the coop.

 

[3KillerBs]

If aesthetics matter then a little paint and trim work wonders for eye appeal.

You could put a trellis next to the run and grow vines up it that would both provide shade and beautify the area. (Don't grow them right on the run fence because the chickens will eat them and kill them).

How warm does it need to be to put 4 week olds out? I need them out of my garage or and they're out of room!!!

If you can run an extension cord for a heat source they can go out on day 1.

If you can't provide heat then they can go out once they're well-feathered and have been allowed to acclimate.

 

[Kidwantschickens]

Thanks for all the information everyone!!! I'll try to answer all the questions.

We are taking a play house that got picked up by the wind and converting that to a coop, but due to chicken math I now have to double it's footprint however that should be easy enough to do. The playset part has a lot of advantages, has plastic windows, doors, etc (it was one of those huge Costco ones) the rock wall will become the ramp to get in and out, the little built in ledge that was to the slide will become the best box, etc... I plan to paint it to match the house


I'm at the very back of the development. So my back yard is country. That is the county property and no one will ever build back there. If you look out my front door it is all houses. We all have 1.25 acre lots though. I'm thinking if it looks like a play house and matches my house people will be less likely to even notice. We have a no solid fence rule as well and my neighbor put up a solid wood fence. Just no one really listens to the rules. No more than three vehicles/campers/boats in the driveways, people have 4-5 things parked around. So, I don't get too worried as long as I don't cause any issues and it isn't ugly and I give away some eggs. Lol

They are not off heat but I've been raising it up and it is now outside of their dog crate and they still look warm to me. They roost a lot, some choose to huddle under the lamp but most look warm outside the lamp. I need to see what temps are going to be. It is just starting to warm up here. They are in a medium dog crate and there are 17 large breed chicks and a Polish. No we're not keeping them all.... We're going to pick 10-12 favorites and sell the pullets and process the cockerels. I'm sure I have one cockerel so far (SF).

I'll probably stop and buy some lumber tonight and look at what they have for siding. Since it will be a mix of play house siding and wood siding, it will all have to be painted. I think I'm going to do french doors at the back side of the coop, so that should be a nice 6' wide opening for cleaning, a 4' wide nest box area, it looked like there nests would fit nicely and the rest will be roosts. The coop will be raised so they will have 43 square feet of shade under it and then I will likely shade an 8x8 area of run and leave an 8x8 area of run open.