Placement of the Coop!

[meghannybarra]

Okay, so we are about to build our coop and I am trying to decide where on my property is the best place to put it. Our back yard isn't HUGE but its a good size. I am worried that if I put the coop in the back, we have bonfires in the back during the summer months and I am worried how the smoke will affect the Chickens. Now we wont be having a fire every night and nor every weekend but when we do I don't want them to be bothered.

Other thought are is it better to protect them from the sun in the summer months or the wind in the winter months. I live in Wisconsin so summer isn't too bad but can have some hot days and the same goes for the winter. We will be insulating the coop as well.

Any suggestions would be very helpful!!!

Thank you!

 

[enola]

Drainage and shade are the two things I would worry about most. You mentioned insulating. My opinion is ventilation is MUCH more important than insulation. But, done properly ventilation and insulation can work very well together.

 

[meghannybarra]

Drainage and shade are the two things I would worry about most. You mentioned insulating. My opinion is ventilation is MUCH more important than insulation. But, done properly ventilation and insulation can work very well together.

Correct we will be having ventilation as well towards the top of the coop. I thought that the coop needed to be insulated to keep them warm in the winter?

 

[enola]

No, the coop does not need to be insulated. Trying to keep heat in the coop will actually do more harm than having ventilation. Without ventilation, moisture and ammonia will build up. The moisture will caus frost bite and the ammonia will cause extreme respiratory distress. As long as a chicken is in a ventilated, dry area, their feathers will keep them warm. Your biggest problem with freezing weather will be keeping their water from freezing.

When I was a kid, our chickens roosted in trees until the weather got really bad. Then they moved to the rafters in the wood shed. They never had any insulation even to below zero weather.

 

[aart]

I'd pick a shady spot....especially if shade is created by deciduous trees.

Wind can be a consideration in building in your ventilation, best have it be close-able on windward side(or everywhere) during winter storms if possible.