Sun vs. Shade?

[sellenj]

My family is on the verge of getting some chickens (6 or so) for the backyard. The best place for the coop and run, as far as I am concerned, is shady all day long, surrounded by lilacs and underneath a large fir. We plan to give the birds the run of the backyard when we can, but some days may be spent entirely in the run. Are chickens happy in the shade?

 

[birdlover]

It's best, of course, for them to have access to both but I'd say the coop would be much better off in the shade. They love to take sun baths but they always need to have shade if they want relief from the sun.

 

[pkeeler]

Chickens evolved in the jungle and don't particularly like being able to see blue sky. Shade and cover are definitely desirable.

 

[Anny]

I would say all shade is better then all day hot hot sun. Mine are in the shade most of the day a few hours of sun maybe but they seem happy.

 

[Sylvie]

I'm new to this too, but decided to place the henhouse in the shade and the run in half shade/half sun.
In the winter which is very cold and snowy here, the leaves will be gone and the sun will help warm it during the day. At night I will close shutters over the south facing window wall to keep the heat in. I am using a vent system near the ceiling on all 4 walls.
I decided against placing any of this under my pines because I want the sun's heat and light in winter.

 

[sellenj]

Thanks, folks, for the advice. As the temperature moves towards 100 today in eastern Washington, the answer seems more obvious.

 

[cmom]

My girls have their coop in the shade and their run is shaded, but their range area has both sun & shade. They dp prefer the shade, but We live in Florida.