Where to locate coop?

[PolarBerry]

Should mention the other birds I have are turkeys but their pen is an addition coop-thing off our pump house so they won't be raised together. Not to say the turkeys won't fly into the orchard though eventually.

 

[ScottandSam]

hoop style pulled threw orchard would be great for boilers. using them now will fertilize the land.

Scott

 

[Molpet]

Ours has three south-facing windows, one east facing, one west facing. A large pen is attached to the coop on the north side. Our coop is nestled underneath and between a large walnut tree and two apple trees. These provide great shade in the summer which helps keep the coop as cool as possible. However, the leaves all drop off in the fall/winter, which allows the sun to shine inside which helps warm it slightly. We have found this set-up to work perfectly for us. It maximizes the shade in the summer and the sun in the winter. Hope this helps somewhat. Use hardware cloth generously to help keep critters out!

Have you had any problems with walnuts hitting the chickens? I have put 3 coops under all the non walnut trees and have an area with about 30 Black walnuts trees I would like to put another coop, but worried about dropping projectiles. I had one hit my handle and thought I had a broken hand LOL

 

[ScottandSam]

Have you had any problems with walnuts hitting the chickens? I have put 3 coops under all the non walnut trees and have an area with about 30 Black walnuts trees I would like to put another coop, but worried about dropping projectiles. I had one hit my handle and thought I had a broken hand LOL

Not for me I know. But Our coop is under a bunch of black walnuts trees. Cars get hit but never seen one hit a chicken or us yet. I have seen girls eating the nut out of ones we run over with the cars.
Scott

 

[Molpet]

Not for me I know. But Our coop is under a bunch of black walnuts trees. Cars get hit but never seen one hit a chicken or us yet. I have seen girls eating the nut out of ones we run over with the cars.
Scott

thank you.. makes me feel better.. they could get hit by a falling branch under any tree anyway I guess.. but so far they haven't.. the shade is sure nice for them

 

[EggyErin]

My coop is at the edge of woods near the house. The front faces SE so gets the appropriate amount of light and warmth but the trees on the side and back provide great shade. My chicken yard will also be mostly in the woods. You could have part of the run on grass and part in the woods. We also have a large rain tank nearby for ease of watering.

 

[dunnmom]

I like having my coop and run under a tree on the east side of the trunk. The tree we have ours under has a huge canopy. It provides nice, thick shading and some rain protection once it fills out in spring. The only complaint I have is tree litter falling on the hardware cloth on top of the run. The top is sloped and the leaves blow off, but sticks get caught in it. I don't know that I would put it under a fruit tree because of flies. Where I live, flies can get really numerous even without rotting fruit nearby.

 

[PolarBerry]

We have more wasps than anything else bug-wise. Our plan was to have some chickens and a few runner ducks in the orchard for pest control and to give them coverage. Our actual woods are pretty thick brambles and steep so I expect it will give the turkeys fun places to hide when ranging.

Going to build the turkey coop this weekend to get them out of the house and will work on chicken coop planning soon after

 

[chickmom3941]

Have you had any problems with walnuts hitting the chickens? I have put 3 coops under all the non walnut trees and have an area with about 30 Black walnuts trees I would like to put another coop, but worried about dropping projectiles. I had one hit my handle and thought I had a broken hand LOL

Oh my, hope your hand is okay! No, haven't had anyone hit by walnuts to my knowledge. Everything is covered - coop (of course) and pen also. When they are let outside to free-range, they usually don't spend that much time under the walnut tree. They've been set free, and they head for the hills in search of bugs and goodies!

 

[aart]

What is your climate?
Putting your location in your profile can help garner better answers /suggestions.

Siting for sun and shade, prevailing winds, snow and rain, run off/drainage, access to house and utilities.....all can have varying weights of importance.