Is it a good idea to build coop under deck stair landing?

[Mom2sixpeeps]

We have an 8 x 8 area for our deck stairs (the landing included) and I am thinking about putting our chicken coop under it. It would get both sunlight and shade, be dry (with some rain material installed), be convenient and the ladies would have plenty of room. We live in a small town in Ga and have a very small back yard. What are your thoughts on having a coop so close to the deck? We will only have 6 chickens. Will they stink? Thanks for your help!!

 

[hennyannie]

I think that you would have some smell depending how clean you are able to keep it. However if you keep them dry this is greayly reduced.

 

[WildChicken]

I would say anywhere you can add a coop, go for it There could be some issues with the smell though

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Quote:
Stink? Depends on their health and what they eat. Some people swear by sand in the litter and feeding only Purina for nicer smelling poop. If water gets into the litter (they're messy little monkeys with their water fountain) there will be an ammonia odor. Some coops smell nice. Ours does, and it's been proven by many noses!

One good thing about building under the deck: you'll build secure for your pet chickens' safety, which will eliminate any hope of a skunk moving in under there!

Another good thing about building upon the foundation of your house: chickens hunt and peck anything that would be trying to move in, which will prevent house spiders, mice, bugs and ants from that area!

But a bad thing about building UNDER a deck: histoplasmosis. It will grow in dark, dry places where bat guano or bird droppings accumulate. Within 3-6 years, you could experience serious respiratory disease, unless you're able to control the chicken poop so it doesn't gather in dark places. Find some way to harvest ALL your chicken poop and compost it, so it cooks into good soil instead of rotting into disease-harboring mass of mess. You'll need access to their roosting, wall and floor spaces for regular care and cleaning.

Another bad thing about building next to your house: predators will try to get in while you're sleeping, and they will pull away bits of deck and siding in order to do so. The frequent repairs to your home and deck could become an expense.

As long as you run NO electricity to your chicken's coop, there's NO fire hazard. Have you seen the stories of coop fires in the news this winter? We learned our chickens are way better off in the winter with no heat. So, ours get no electricity (which they don't behave around anyways, little monkeys!)

Would LOVE to see pics as you build!