Demophlos
In the Brooder
I have to decide where to place my coop and what type of coop to build. I have found plenty of good ideas on here, and that is part of my problem. I know I cannot account for every possible issue, but I am going to do my best. Hoping you all can provide some insight that may point me in the right direction.
I live in Northeast Ohio, a few miles south of Lake Erie. I can't really say the snowbelt because Buffalo definitely got it worse this year, but we are in that region.
Our property is as pictured below. The backyard is fenced about where the black line shows. It is a bit of a ridge, the house sits up higher, the blue circle is the lowest point of the yard and does end up with standing water maybe twice a year with snowmelt and heavy rain. It is dry most of the summer. The yard slopes back up further back. Because of the slope, the yard is protected from some of the wind gusts. The soil is very sandy, especially out back. I do have a pool with a deck, and it is gated. The pool can be seen within the blue circle as well. I built a shed and have electric and water available at the shed (not circled but just to the left of the pool. I have already checked with my township and there is no restrictions on having chickens or roosters unless a neighbor complains. I also have spoken with neighbors on both sides to make sure they were ok with us having a coop.
I have 3 locations in mind for the coop:
Location 1 is on the left. It is close enough to that I could run water and power to the coop if I wanted to. It has the most direct sunlight catching sunrise, then sun from about 11:00 - 3:00, and then 5:00-sunset. This is because of the tree line on both sides of the property. However, as you can see below, the edge of that water could potentially be under part of the run. Even if I spread that pile out, the water would still sit underneath during heavy rains, so I don't know if that makes it a no-go for here. This was my first pick for a location.
Location 2 is to the right and slight back along the other neighbors fence line. We have a patch of blackberries and the ground here is never with standing water. This location is too far to run any power or water to and will only get the sunrise and late afternoon sun. It is shaded during the summer with all the trees. Also, my neighbor drives a semi, and there can be a lot of noises from the trucks. He has a shop back there as well where he works on his trucks. I don't think that will bother the chickens, but just something to note.
My 3rd location is in the back of the yard. It is flat, well elevated, but would only get afternoon sun. No chance of power or water back here either. And somewhat near the firepit, but that is only there because we cut some trees down.
I think location 2 makes the most sense but curious on your thoughts.
Part 2 is coop design. The location does not really change anything for me in the design. I have have looked at so many, and I am looking for someone to talk me out of what I am thinking or tell me this will work.
The shed I built was a kit from Home Depot, and I am just thinking of getting another but larger (or making it from the plans they have posted) and making that the coup. I was looking at a 10 x 16 shed, using a 10x10 area for the coop and the other area for food, bedding, tool storage. I like the idea of having an isolated brooding space inside as well. I am not sure the kits make sense due to the modifications what would be needed, but that is the basic plan for the coop. I have found several pages of people turning existing sheds into coops, but none specifically built as a coop. Is this over kill? Would I be better off building one of the smaller in size coops similar to what EZcoops sells at TC?
Feedback is appreciated.
Thank you from a new chicken dad in Ohio.
I live in Northeast Ohio, a few miles south of Lake Erie. I can't really say the snowbelt because Buffalo definitely got it worse this year, but we are in that region.
Our property is as pictured below. The backyard is fenced about where the black line shows. It is a bit of a ridge, the house sits up higher, the blue circle is the lowest point of the yard and does end up with standing water maybe twice a year with snowmelt and heavy rain. It is dry most of the summer. The yard slopes back up further back. Because of the slope, the yard is protected from some of the wind gusts. The soil is very sandy, especially out back. I do have a pool with a deck, and it is gated. The pool can be seen within the blue circle as well. I built a shed and have electric and water available at the shed (not circled but just to the left of the pool. I have already checked with my township and there is no restrictions on having chickens or roosters unless a neighbor complains. I also have spoken with neighbors on both sides to make sure they were ok with us having a coop.
I have 3 locations in mind for the coop:
Location 1 is on the left. It is close enough to that I could run water and power to the coop if I wanted to. It has the most direct sunlight catching sunrise, then sun from about 11:00 - 3:00, and then 5:00-sunset. This is because of the tree line on both sides of the property. However, as you can see below, the edge of that water could potentially be under part of the run. Even if I spread that pile out, the water would still sit underneath during heavy rains, so I don't know if that makes it a no-go for here. This was my first pick for a location.
Location 2 is to the right and slight back along the other neighbors fence line. We have a patch of blackberries and the ground here is never with standing water. This location is too far to run any power or water to and will only get the sunrise and late afternoon sun. It is shaded during the summer with all the trees. Also, my neighbor drives a semi, and there can be a lot of noises from the trucks. He has a shop back there as well where he works on his trucks. I don't think that will bother the chickens, but just something to note.
My 3rd location is in the back of the yard. It is flat, well elevated, but would only get afternoon sun. No chance of power or water back here either. And somewhat near the firepit, but that is only there because we cut some trees down.
I think location 2 makes the most sense but curious on your thoughts.
Part 2 is coop design. The location does not really change anything for me in the design. I have have looked at so many, and I am looking for someone to talk me out of what I am thinking or tell me this will work.
The shed I built was a kit from Home Depot, and I am just thinking of getting another but larger (or making it from the plans they have posted) and making that the coup. I was looking at a 10 x 16 shed, using a 10x10 area for the coop and the other area for food, bedding, tool storage. I like the idea of having an isolated brooding space inside as well. I am not sure the kits make sense due to the modifications what would be needed, but that is the basic plan for the coop. I have found several pages of people turning existing sheds into coops, but none specifically built as a coop. Is this over kill? Would I be better off building one of the smaller in size coops similar to what EZcoops sells at TC?
Feedback is appreciated.
Thank you from a new chicken dad in Ohio.
