Location of Coop

[danamillette]

Good afternoon,
I have an old "play house" about 20 feet from a window in my house. I would like to use this as my coop. Provided I keep a clean coop, do you see the smell as a possible nuisance? What about noise? I plan on getting about 5 laying chickens.
Thanks!

 

[Chirpy]

I think it depends on where you live and how often you clean it or if you use the DLM and use DE.

I live in the very dry west and don't ever have a smelly coop (I use the DLM method (Deep Litter Method). As long as everything stays dry inside you can't smell anything but pine shavings.

I've heard people in the East say it's a totally different story due to the high humidity and lots of wet weather.

I don't think I'd purposely put a coop that close if it were upwind most of the time.

 

[Anny]

As long as you keep a clean coop you should be good.

 

[danamillette]

Thanks,
I live in Northern Wisconsin. What is DE?

 

[Chirpy]

Sorry, I should have spelled that one out ... DE is Diatomaceous Earth. People use FOOD GRADE DE and spread it around their coop, in the nest boxes, on the roosts and even on their animals to help control pests.

 

[Jenski]

I have my coop and covered run next to my patio (four hens), and I have not had major issues with smell ~ however, I police it up twice a day, and I keep it as dry-dry-dry as possible.

Good luck!


Jen in TN

 

[arlee453]

I wouldn't worry about it being that close as far as odor, etc - if you keep it clean & dry (which is not THAT much work) then odor will be minimal.

I think one of the most important considerations for coops is SHADE though, especially for warm climates. The chickens need a good shady spot to dust bathe and keep themselves cool in the summer.

We've had 0 problems with overheated chickens at our house, but we have a large shady run where the chickens can keep themselves cool by dust bathing in the shade....

 

[chickenfanatic]

i think ud be okay and its nice to have them close feels more comfortable when u think of all the predators out there good luck

 

[Mahonri]

Our coop is fairly close to the house. We use pine shavings and DE but we sweep and mop the coop out once a week.