Picking a spot for the coop and run

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

Hi there! I'm moving to a new home in a couple of months and trying to figure out where the coop and run will go. Building up some of the initial framing pieces in the current place so there's less work to do once we move.

There are three main spots I'm considering and all have trade-offs. For reference I live outside of Seattle so it's quite rainy, but we've had some sweltering days this summer (record highs) and are about to head into some record lows. Our new property is a bit less than an acre and is shaped like a long rectangle.

Thanks in advance! Mostly it helps to type this all out to frame my own thoughts around it. I have a preference but think my spouse might disagree with mine. I'd love to get input from this group.

Spot 1: Right behind the house

Pros:​

- Easy to access​

- Slightly elevated and flat ground so less likely flooding​

- Space is perfect size for our small flock​

- Secluded from road​

- Not a frequently used part of the house that's adjacent and fully unused part of the property. If we don't do this I would consider garden beds there​

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Cons:​

- Fairly shaded (would get afternoon sun until house obscured as it sets)​

- Close to house (though I'm not super concerned with this based on flock size and how secure/clean we tend to keep it)​

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Please excuse my awful drawing ​

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Spot 2: About 75 feet S of the house

Pros:​

- Secluded from the road (obscured by trees)​

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Cons:​

- Fully shaded by huge conifers - hardly any light​

- Uneven/loose soil​

- Small area (didn't have a chance to measure at our last walk through) but the trees restrict the space. We'd have to extend the run out into the main body of the yard which wouldn't be as convenient​

Spot 3: About 150 feet S of the house

Pros:​

- More sq ft than Spot 2 between trees​

- Most sun out of all of the spots​

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Cons:​

- Fully visible from road (not a big deal overall but I'd just prefer it to be slightly obscured)​

- Bumps up to neighbor's property where they have a barn, tractors, etc. (also not a real issue but just less private)​

- Still uneven/semi-loose soil​

- Closer to the end of our property that has potential to flood in extreme weather​

- Farther from the house/longer walk for care​

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[RubelliteRose]

If it were me, I would choose closer to the house. It's just more convenient and as someone who also has potential flooding, I feel the more elevated the run, the better

 

[Boise-girls]

Personally, I would go for option one. In bad weather, you will particularly appreciate that it's close to the house, has decent drainage and more space for your girls.

Sun and shade can be tricky, since the sun's position changes with the seasons. Our chicken area gets lots of sun in the summer and not so much in the winter - the opposite of what I'd like. But, shade cloths and weather protection mitigate the negatives, and are easier to deal with than flooding and insufficient space would be.

I also wonder if it might be harder to protect against predators if you have to dig around tree roots to put in hardware cloth.

That's my two cents, for what it's worth!

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

If it were me, I would choose closer to the house. It's just more convenient and as someone who also has potential flooding, I feel the more elevated the run, the better

Personally, I would go for option one. In bad weather, you will particularly appreciate that it's close to the house, has decent drainage and more space for your girls.

Sun and shade can be tricky, since the sun's position changes with the seasons. Our chicken area gets lots of sun in the summer and not so much in the winter - the opposite of what I'd like. But, shade cloths and weather protection mitigate the negatives, and are easier to deal with than flooding and insufficient space would be.

I also wonder if it might be harder to protect against predators if you have to dig around tree roots to put in hardware cloth.

That's my two cents, for what it's worth!

Thank you both! That's my preferred spot for sure.

 

[3KillerBs]

In a wet climate on clay soil DRAINAGE is #1.

Dry chickens are healthy chickens.

Shade is a good thing -- chickens are naturally creatures of the forest floor rather than the open fields and heat is more of a problem than cold.

Convenience matters. How far do you want to walk to tend the chickens and collect eggs in the worst possible weather that your climate can throw at you?

 

[DickMidnight]

id try to make option 2 work, as long as there is sufficient space.

we keep our coop and run very clean, but i still wouldn’t want our chickens attached to our house and potentially right under a first floor window.

if i had to hear and smell chickens while sitting inside i wouldn’t have chickens.

 

[Sally PB]

If we don't do this I would consider garden beds there Cons:- Fairly shaded

A garden won't do well in the shade.

As everyone said, drainage (especially in your climate) and ease/convenience of care are two things that really help with chickens.

 

[Boise-girls]

id try to make option 2 work, as long as there is sufficient space.

we keep our coop and run very clean, but i still wouldn’t want our chickens attached to our house and potentially right under a first floor window.

if i had to hear and smell chickens while sitting inside i wouldn’t have chickens.

Our chicken set-up is right outside our back door, and I never smell a thing, even in the summer. And, I like being able to hear them.

Everyone's different, though, and it may depend on how many you have and what your management style is. I must admit, it's a relief when I lock them up at night and don't have to think about them again till morning!

 

[DickMidnight]

Everyone's different, though

for sure, everyone is.

the fact is that animals smell. that you’ve become accustomed to it, or that you don’t mind it, makes your setup work for you.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My top three criteria when selecting a location for a coop and run are drainage, drainage, and drainage. A wet coop and run are unhealthy, can stink, and are messy to work around. A dry coop and run are so much easier to work with. There is a reason so many people mention drainage.

Does water drain to this area, through it, or does it drain away. The worst location is an area that water drains to and not away from. It being flat does not mean it drains. How does your house roof slope? Will water run from the house roof to the coop/run area, keeping it wet? What are the natural drainage patterns on that property?

My next criteria is your convenience. Where are you storing food and getting water for them? How far are you going to have to carry them? Will you have to wade through a creek to get to them if it is raining? If there is snow or ice on the ground will you have to walk up or down a steep slope? Who is carrying the food and water and collecting eggs, you or your husband? One person's vote may count a little more than the other.

Where will you have your garden and compost pile. I find it convenient to have them together. When cleaning the coop you can put that stuff into the compost. Garden excess and waste can go into the run for them as treats or maybe straight to the compost pile if it is too much or inedible.

How are you building the coop and run? Trees for shade are great but may make it harder for good predator protection.

There is a lot of personal preference in this type of question. There is a lot I don't know about your drainage or how you plan to set this up. For my personal preferences and how I'd probably set it up I'd look at option 2. 75 feet is not that far, my coop is about 200 feet from the house. You can take advantage of both sun and shade. I think I could set something up very nice there. But I don't know your drainage patterns.