Where do I put my coop/run/tractor - pics inside

[thistlewick]

Okay ya'll I am coming to the conclusion that I cannot have my tractors out in my pasture; the risk of hawks is 100% they are every dang where. There is no where for them to hide in the pasture; see below

This was the pasture, the one just beyond this first fence, where I was going to keep them. But this is too exposed and I don't have enough chickens to do rotational grazing anyway. I only have 20 chickens -- I'd need *hundreds* to handle 10 acres.

SO -- we have lots of space -- what about here, in this patch of lawn next to a healthy, HUGE, hedge, in front of my house?

It would be to the right of the well head in that area somewhere. I'd still let them free range and we are still hundreds of feet away from the very rural and very empty road. It's just safer for them?? Because they can run and hide in the hedge. I guess?

I have treeline along my pastures, but I don't want them so far away. I have become used to looking out my windows and seeing them to keep an eye on.

There is also some space beyond the driveway towards our leach field:

Way up in the right corner there, loads of space, loads of options.

What I DO know though, because I have cameras covering every angle of the front and back of my house, is that raccoons come across this front part of my yard every couple of weeks. They don't seem to go to the back of my property where the coops are now, because I have cameras on the coops and none of the raccoons have gone anywhere near the coops. They just walk THROUGH my property right along this grass and across my driveway.

So do deer, every night, one doe lives very close by. Sometimes skunks. Sometimes neighbor or feral cats -- neighbors are FAR away but the cats I catch on my cameras might be owned... or not. Not sure.

Point being is that ALL the predator pressure is here along the front of my house, along this hedge... along the treelines. BUT, their coops are very secure.

I'm unsure where they can safely end up :/

 

[wrathsfarm]

Which way is east and west?
I would want some shade in the summer heat and sun in the winter if your winters are cold.

 

[thistlewick]

Which way is east and west?
I would want some shade in the summer heat and sun in the winter if your winters are cold.

I'm in central NC, our winters are cold, but we don't get months of snow. Hell, we don't even get days of snow. We might get A day of snow.

The patch of grass in front of the house is protected all afternoon from the worst part of the heat of the day. A bonus for sure.

We did have another options; to the left of the barn, alongside the fence;

They are still close enough to the house, the hedge and the barn itself for shelter.

 

[thistlewick]

We decided on the left of the barn there for a permanent spot.

 

[Penpal]

That looks like a nice spot, especially if they can use the port during really hot weather. If not, you can put up a roof for the birds of mesh tarp. It lets rain drip through and gives sufficient shade. I have used it on my deck.

You can put in a French drain also, if mud is a problem. You can rotate them from the left of the barn to this side of the barn and still be able to see them.

 

[thistlewick]

That looks like a nice spot, especially if they can use the port during really hot weather. If not, you can put up a roof for the birds of mesh tarp. It lets rain drip through and gives sufficient shade. I have used it on my deck.

You can put in a French drain also, if mud is a problem. You can rotate them from the left of the barn to this side of the barn and still be able to see them.

They will be free ranging - even with the threat of hawks the closer they are to the house and the hedge in front the safer they will be, not to mention that great lean-to attached to the barn

But for now, the little ones (6 and 7 weeks old) will be cooped up to grow a bit bigger before being free like their big cousins.

With the little temp shades/rain covers we give them in this Carolina summer.

Camera view for nighttime chicanery - I have another movable camera I can put on the other side to have a 360 view.

My husband and I were deciding that we will do this for a year or two and if this spot works and we like it, we will upgrade to a Carolina Coop.