We're about to take the plunge...but where to put the coop?

[Too Fast]

Hi all.

I'm Marnie. I live in central Indiana. I've been reading and reading about keeping backyard chickens and I think we're about there!

We have one dilemma: where to put the coop? Here is some info you might need and then I'd appreciate any your thoughts. Thanks!

1. We will keep 3 or 4 hens, probably Orpingtons.
2. We have two friendly labs, contained with an Invisible Fence, just under 1 acre.
3. We have fields and heavily wooded areas around our neighborhood, so we have all sorts of predatory critters. (I know we will need to keep our coop well secured from all sides.)
4. I have a large garden that I want them to forage in for a few hours each week for pest control. (I know I will need to do this probably in 1 hr sessions throughout the week, otherwise I won't have much garden left!)

We have a strip of "woods" (really just overgrown shrubs, understory and a few big trees). It is probably 25 feet wide and runs along the entire length of one edge of our yard. On the other side of the strip is a fallow field that serves as a buffer to a new subdivision beyond that. I would like to put the coop in our woods because it is outside of the dogs' invivisble fence area, it would be cool in the summer, and the tress could block could winter winds. Also, it would be out of view from our neighbors.

Problem: This is where the wild critters reside or frequent. It might be a bit far from the house on a snowy cold night, nor do we have any electricity running out there. (Should we need to put a light in for heat in the winter???)

I have one more spot that might work, but that would put it within the zone of the dogs. I'm sure the dogs would eventually get used to the chickens, but...it makes me a bit squeamish.

Do you think it sounds too risky to put them in our 'woods' or could we build a durable enough coop?

Thanks,
Marnie

Hello and welcome.

1, IDK but it seems like I see a lot of BO on this forum.
2. You never can tell about the dogs, some have had them for many years and then suddenly they attack the chickens.
3. Yes you absolutely must keep the coop very secure from predators, especially racoons. Remember, you build it predator proof in a few hours/days, and the racoons/opossums/coyotes/foxes/hawks/owls have all summer to find/make an entrance.
4. Pest control like that is a great idea!

I've read that many people don't use any heat during the winter, even in double digit negative F temps. So, we in Indy are not going to heat our coop, but we will make sure the water is not frozen. We are using a heat lamp tonight, since the overnight will be close to freezing. But next week, no, and probably not again. Anything you can do to make the coop easier to clean is a great idea. Multiple clean-outs are really nice. Check out the coops in the coop thread. And oh yeah, go to the extremely active Indiana BYCers thread, many people their to answer questions.