Where to put the coop?!

[Lanfear]

I have to tell you how amazing you are!!! Most cat owners who allow their cats outside just let them run free and it is so maddening when they are left to go where they please.

I work at a vet clinic. You don't want to know how many cat bodies we deal with, many hit by cars. Sometimes they're unlucky and are still alive with smashed pelvises, broken limbs, eyes popped out, guts hanging out, screaming in pain. Our city is so bad - there's laws saying cats must not leave property but no one follows it. This is their current gettup It's back when I only had six, now we have nine It's only 10' x 10' so at the new place I want to make it 30' x 40' or so.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The first thing I look at to position a coop or run is drainage. You are right, a wet area is asking for problems. If water drains to it or stands in it, you will almost certainly have issues with it stinking, plus a wet coop or run is an unhealthy area. If the area drains well your life will be easier.

I've never kept cats penned like that and I don't have guineas so i can't comment from experience on that set-up. I suggest you really think about your convenience, which I think you are. As long as it is dry you can build something they are happy with so location doesn't really matter to them. You have received some good comments. The things I'd consider are where will you store your feed to carry to them, either the whole bag when you get new feed or daily when you fee them. Same thought process with water. Will you be wading through water if it is raining, so not just does the coop/run get wet but do you getting to them. Think rain as well as snow. They can be noisy. That might bother some people, others it will not. Do you want them seen from the road? That might make a difference in some neighborhoods.

 

[aart]

Having coop so close to house might be great in winter, but not so great in summer when odors may arise..not to mention it will impact your views from the house.

Wasn't thinking so much about the trek through the snow...

...and think of moving snow, where will the piles go? You probably already have some experience with that.
Geez... looks like the cats get more space than the birds do!!
Another thing to think about with cats and chooks sharing space is that permethrin is a common treatment for external parasite in chickens, but is deadly to cats.
And I think there's something in cat poop that can affect chickens.

The first thing I look at to position a coop or run is drainage.

Indeed!