How to Position Your Backyard Chicken Coop

The topic of this article is crucial when it comes to raising chickens in your backyard. Where you choose to position your chicken coop has a direct effect on the number of eggs your chickens will lay, and of course, you’ll want to collect as many eggs as possible for maximum results.

Before you set up your chicken coop, you’ll want to make sure to consider things carefully. Choosing the right spot in your yard is essential to the success of your chicken coop. Plus, a backyard chicken coop is a long term investment. This is why it makes sense to do things the right way from the beginning, so that you will be satisfied with it for years to come.

You should consider the following factors:

Protection

This first thing you will want to think about is protecting your chickens from predators that can decimate their population. The best way to do this is to locate the chicken coop as close to your living quarters as possible. This way you will be able to keep an eye out for trouble.

Another thing to remember is that if you have big farm, certain areas may routinely harbor animals that could threaten your coop. Be sure to keep the coop far away from these areas. The more distance you place between your chickens and potential predators, the better.

Climate

Something else to think about when it comes to positioning your chicken coop is the climate. Do you live in an area where it rains a lot? Or perhaps you live somewhere where it is hot all of the time? If so, you should consider placing your chicken coop in an area where it is sheltered near some trees. This will keep the coop near the shade, as well as minimize the rain that hits the coop.

If your area tends to get a lot of rain, you should also make sure to construct the coop away from areas where water tends to pool. Otherwise, you may be dealing with a flooded chicken coop.

If you live in a windy area, then you should build the coop near a grouping of trees or buildings that will bear the brunt of the wind. Of course, the coop should be well ventilated, but avoid placing it where it will be subjected to a constant onslaught of strong winds.

Sunlight

Lastly, because chickens need regular exposure to natural sunlight in order to maximize their output of eggs, you should place your chicken coop near an area that receives a good amount of natural light from the sun. This will also help you avoid the expense and hassle of having to run an electrical light in the chicken coop.

So, keep these considerations in mind as you think about precisely where you’ll put your chicken coop. Planning properly ahead of time will ensure that you’ll be pleased with your coop in the long run, and will increase the number of fresh eggs you can collect from your chickens.