The more I read, the more confused I get..... Placement of coop

[KaySerRa]

Hi everyone - Obviously I'm a NEWBIE!

Originally, when I got the GREAT idea of raising chickens, I thought we'd put the chicken coop close to the barn, where all our other animals are (2 horses, 6 goats, 4 dogs). Reason being our dogs would protect the hens as well as the goats and horses from all the predators in our area. Then I read somewhere, that dogs would stress the hens out, so then I found another place outside of the barn area. Luckily we do have that option. However, after looking at the pictures on here of a raccoon destroying a trap

, I'm back to thinking perhaps the hens would be safer in the original place. What are your thoughts and/or experiences? We haven't started work on the coop yet, but I'd like to make the final decision to where it will be placed beforehand, plus hubby would appreciate it too!

Oh, forgot to mention that it'll be the "playhouse" design with a run so the hens wouldn't be free range.
Thanks, will appreciate any thoughts and suggestions!

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Put it close to your water source and someplace easy for you to reach in bad weather. You will be dealing with waterers a lot more than you (hopefully) will be dealing with predators. Make the coop as secure as possible and that will deal with the predator problem anyway. My two coops/runs are about 25 feet from my backyard and dogs. Once the chickens learned to avoid the dog fence while out ranging it hasn't been a problem. They completely ignore the barking dogs (and one of mine STILL continues to bark at the ranging chickens. Sigh.) I do think the proximity to the house and the back yard has helped some with predators. The dogs do sound an alarm when possums and whatnot come around. Plus the whole area has to smell like dog, so some of the smaller predators don't even bother coming around.

I'd vote for someplace easy for you to maintain. It will be a lot less fun if you are having to tote stuff a long way.

Congrats on your first chickens!! It is more fun than you can even imagine!

 

[KaySerRa]

Thanks for your suggestion!

That's true, toting water isn't fun...have had to do that for my mare when she was "stall bound" for a couple of months, since we don't have water right at the barn...yet. However, whether we decide to put the coop close to the barn or outside that area, we'll have an area for storage for either places...so toting stuff won't be an issue. We'll definitely make the coop as secure as possible from predators at either place we decide on too. I've seen oppossums INSIDE the dog pen which is right at the house (we've got two inside dogs as well) and beavers have come right up to the house to snack on the forsythia bushes. *sigh* As well as raccoons coming right up on our back deck.

Our outside dogs (two great pyrenees, collie mix, and a lab mix), have done a good job in protecting the goats and horses from the coyotes, so that's why I initially was thinking of putting the coop close to the barn, but I don't want the hens to get stressed out by the dogs either.

I'm really excited about getting started on building the coop! We'll be using a lot of left over material from when we built the barns, and have most of the supplies. THEN we'll get the chickens when everything is done.

Thanks again for responding!

 

[HenPen]

My chicken run and yard share a fence line and my chickens don't seem to mind my 8 dogs even when one charges the fence trying to spook them....some flutter off some just look at them like dummy you can't get me.

 

[Joz]

I read a recommendation a couple days ago to locate the coop in view of the kitchen/dining table, so you can watch your chickens while you're at leisure in the house. I can't take this advice (yard is too small), but you might find it useful.

 

[KaySerRa]

HenPen - That's encouraging news! Hopefully, our hens will react the same to our dogs. Love it! ...... "some flutter off, some just look at them like dummy you can't get me"

Joz - That would be an idea, but we too don't have much area out from the kitchen windows. All our land is off to the side of the house, small front and back...with a lake "a stone's throw" from the back. Reason why we have so much damage from beavers. Besides, hubby doesn't want them THAT close to the house. He's been very tolerant of all the other animals, so I'm not going to "press my luck!"

Thanks for writing, ladies!

 

[big greg barker]

Put the chickens in your original location, they will get used to the dogs...........

 

[KaySerRa]

Thanks for responding, big greg barker.

The original site would be more convenient only because I'm down there anyway feeding the other "critters." Just wanted the best for the chickens, obviously I know "squat" about them,

BUT, I'm learning!!

 

[Omran]

Quote:
We all are learning, + having fun

I have no dogs, but my hens are so friendly I think any preditor might come to them say HI GUYS and then EAT them

 

[KaySerRa]

Omran - I agree, we're all learning everyday about something and hopefully having fun doing it!

I never had goats before either, and I learned. I've not lost one due to not knowing how to care for them or to a coyote. I love each one of them with their unique personalities. Who'd thunk it?! I NEVER did!

So I know chickens will be the same way. I'll be getting chicks to get them super friendly. So they'll be like yours, hopefully, giving everyone a nice welcome. Thanks for your comment.