Wich way should the coop face. Nth? Sth/

[overnout]

Hi Guys,

New to what seems to be a fantastic forum. We've just purchased a small chicken coop. After having built an outdoor area for the chickens, we purchased a couple of 22 week old Isa Brown chickens. A robust breed (from what I've learnt) suitable for our climate here in Australia. Suburbia Melbourne.

We've been advised not to face the chicken coupe to the morning sun. I hav,nt worked out what that sought of means Lol. The Windows? The front door? lol

Also should the door onto the ramp (into the sleeping and nesting area) be locked up each night. Or can we leave it open.

Cheers for now,

overnout

 

[S.L.Swope]

First

Second I who,d think they ment the windows but not totally sure as I'm still a new chicken owner myself. As for the chicken door I would close it up unless you have a completely predator proof run attached

 

[hemet dennis]

Do you have anything there that will want to eat your chickens if you do then lock the door at night
If you have an open side (just wire no wall) then you should face that side to the north to get the most light
good luck

and

from Calif.

 

[overnout]

Thank-you for your welcome.

We live in a pretty dense (dwellings) area and don't have any predators. The way the coupe is at the moment its facing West where the sun sets but on cold days its also where the wheather comes from. Straight into the door and into the coupe. My other options are to the east (morning sun) or to the south. The coupe does have a window but is closed most of the time.

 

[Hinotori]

I faced my coops in the opposite direction the wind and rain drive in. I didn't want my birds wet or having cold drafts blow on them.

 

[overnout]

Hi Hinotori

Thats the idea I was toying with. So we moved the coupe about an hour ago. Much better to have them nice and warm. I'll deal with the psyche of laying an egg later. lol

Cheers.

 

[Nonny]

Our coop is weather proof from all angles so the only things we have to worry about with positioning is:

a) How early the sun will go through their window and wake them up (which is to say, how early they might start making noise. It starts getting light at about 4:30 am here)
b) Facing away from the neighbours fence so that the noise is directed more towards our house than theirs, and
c) Aesthetics and ease of access (I like my yard to look 'balanced', and also don't like walking around too many things to get to the egg box so we turned the coop so that the nest boxes were closer to our door).

I leave our coop door open at night because the run is relatively secure... the only predators we get around here in the 'burbs of Brisbane overnight are snakes and foxes and I've never seen any trace of either where we are.

 

[Jay262]

I have never really found that big of a difference in the way i face my coop i have them all over the place. As for S.L.Swope sadly one of the things your gonna learn about raising poultry is there is no such thing as a preadator proof run or coop. Thats one those lessons we all learn at some point or another.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I face all my windows to the east. That maximizes day length because the morning light hits the girls early which helps with egg laying. They are outside till dark so evening light doesn't matter. South windows have no effect if your chickens that are outside.
I don't think prevailing winds in Melbourne are out of the east so that should work with open windows(covered with hardware cloth).

 

[groundpecker]

There are always predators. Mice, rats, possum, snakes, hawks and the occasional human. When you get chickens you will notice just how many predators you really have in your area.
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