Direction considerations for new coop - northern WI

[fanofdmb84]

I'm finding myself overwhelmed with decisions - I'm planning buying a coop like the one attached. Ive never had chickens before. I have 5 acres but because of snow I want to keep it close-ish to the house.

How do I decide which direction to 'face' it? I figure the windows should probably face south, right? There will be vents at the peak on either end for cross ventilation and an attached run. It's insulated. There is a large birch tree 15' to the east and a pine 10' to the west of the (for-now proposed) coop site. Our house is 75' or so to the northeast.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The advice for windows facing south is to maximize sunlight inside. I have a slightly different take in that my primary winds usually come from southern directions, so I have no windows on the south wall and windows west, east and north instead. So might want to consider wind direction if you get wind driven storms in your area.

 

[Lulu-vt]

What a gorgeous coop! How exciting. Don't overthink it but if it were mine, I would put the primary goal of not having any drafts in the coop. So setting the most solid wall in the direction that your wind blows most of the time. Chickens need a place to keep cool in the summer and also need to be draft free in the winter. Everything else they can manage.

 

[aart]

First thought is to put it where you can clear a path thru snow to coop and run easily.
Second thought, coop looks very attractive but I see several severe lacks for a chicken coop.
Little to no winter ventilation.
No roof overhangs to protect needed winter ventilation or existing windows.
Lid to nest boxes(probably too many nests) looks hard to handle...
...or maybe it's not a lift up lid?
Pop door is at floor level, no room for bedding to be kept in the coop.
Sorry to be a rain cloud but I call em like I see em.

 

[fanofdmb84]

First thought is to put it where you can clear a path thru snow to coop and run easily.
Second thought, coop looks very attractive but I see several severe lacks for a chicken coop.
Little to no winter ventilation.
No roof overhangs to protect needed winter ventilation or existing windows.
Lid to nest boxes(probably too many nests) looks hard to handle...
...or maybe it's not a lift up lid?
Pop door is at floor level, no room for bedding to be kept in the coop.
Sorry to be a rain cloud but I call em like I see em.

Not rainy at all! These are things I can potentially ask for customizations. The photo is a past coop this person has built, but I can use it as a template for my own needs.
I believe there is a small door on the front (back?) of the nest boxes - the roofing part doesn't lift up.
The pop door is something I will ask them about because I plan to do deep litter over the winter at least so that is totally valid.
The ventilation I will add or ask them to build because I share your concern there.
Thanks for the insights!

 

[Penpal]

I think it might be easier to have nest box doors that drop down. Easier to manage getting eggs and easier to clean out. I wouldn't have a roof slanted that way. I'd want it with both sides coming down and a good overhang to help keep rain away from the walls/windows/ventilation and keep it cooler in the summer when the sun is high.

I would have all the roosts at the same height. If the floor won't be dirt, I would cover it with a washable surface.

I never put my door opening on the west side because that is where the wind comes from, as well as the storms. Which side is the windy and bad weather side?

 

[fanofdmb84]

I never put my door opening on the west side because that is where the wind comes from, as well as the storms. Which side is the windy and bad weather side?

If I face my windows south, which is currently the plan, the walk-in door will be to the east, the little chicken door leading to the covered run will be to the west. Most of our weather comes from the west, so I think that's probably the safest bet.

This also means snow fall-off from the roof will be to the north where it will build up, but it's at the 'back' of everything so hopefully won't be in my way at all.

For egg collection, they have a little lift-up flap with a clip. Hard to see in the first photo but you can see it in this one. I did ask them to extend the roof over the windows to provide more weather protection.

 

[aart]

For egg collection, they have a little lift-up flap with a clip. Hard to see in the first photo but you can see it in this one.

That's a mighty tiny door....and doesn't look like it lines up with the nests inside?

I did ask them to extend the roof over the windows to provide more weather protection.

In the back too....and open up the soffits on both sides for winter ventilation.

 

[fanofdmb84]

That's a mighty tiny door....and doesn't look like it lines up with the nests inside?

Tbh I'm not sure how much I'll use it or if I'll just go inside.
There is a separated feed room area on one end - so the nest boxes aren't lined up with the windows and I believe this photo is a different coop with a reversed floorplan from the first one I posted.

 

[Squawkers]

Those roosts look way close together. Somebody would get pooped on