The Best Location for Your Chicken Coop: What to Know Before You Build

backyard chicken coop in a natural setting, painted in light tones with black hardware, featuring a nesting box, ventilation doors, and a raised henhouse design to increase run space.

Where you place your chicken coop matters more than people think. A well-placed coop can make your flock happier, your life easier, and even extend the life of your setup. Since we design and build coops that are meant to be functional and good-looking, we’ve seen a lot of what works—and what doesn’t.

Here’s what to keep in mind when picking the perfect spot for your coop:

1. Choose a Spot with Good Drainage

Chickens don’t do well in wet environments. If your coop sits in a low area where water pools after rain, you’ll end up dealing with muddy conditions that are both messy and unhealthy for your flock. Wet bedding breaks down faster, smells worse, and can increase the risk of disease. Look for slightly elevated, firm ground where water naturally drains away. If you’re in an area with heavy rains, consider adding a gravel base or drainage ditch to help keep the space dry year-round.

2. Partial Shade is Perfect

Too much sunlight can stress chickens and increase the coop’s internal temperature, while too much shade can lead to dampness. A spot with dappled light or afternoon shade is ideal—especially in hot climates. If natural shade isn’t an option, you can always create it with plants, trellises, or strategic placement near a structure. Bonus: trees nearby can also provide protection from aerial predators like hawks.

3. Face It East (If You Can)

Facing your coop east allows soft morning light to filter into the coop and wake your flock gradually. It helps support their internal clock and keeps the space from overheating in the afternoon. While it’s not a must, this orientation has worked really well for us and many of our customers. A well-lit morning environment gets your hens laying earlier in the day and keeps your schedule on track.

4. Keep It Close, But Not Too Close

You’ll need to visit your coop every day, and possibly more than once. Keeping it close to your house makes that daily routine feel like second nature. No long walks in the rain or freezing cold. At the same time, give your birds some privacy and make sure you’ve left room to maneuver around the structure for maintenance or cleaning.

Our setup is a good example of that balance. We placed our coop fairly close to the house, right near a streetlight we already had in the yard. The light adds a layer of nighttime visibility, and between that and our dogs patrolling the area, we’ve had zero predator problems. It’s close enough to keep an eye on but far enough that it blends into the yard without being in the way. Plus, being able to hear your flock can actually be a helpful thing—you’ll know if something's off just by sound.

5. Consider Predator Safety

Coop placement plays a big role in protecting your flock. Avoid placing the coop against dense brush, wooded areas, or spots where visibility is limited. Predators like raccoons, coyotes, and snakes often hide in those spaces. Open sight lines give you more control and reduce risk. If you have dogs, positioning the coop within their patrol zone can offer an added layer of protection. Motion-sensor lights, fencing, and even game cameras can help monitor nighttime activity and give you peace of mind.

6. Choose Flat Ground for Easy Installation

Uneven ground can cause issues during both setup and daily use. A slanted surface makes building more complicated and can throw off doors, latches, and roof lines. Even a slight tilt can affect how bedding settles inside. We recommend prepping a flat area before installation, especially if we’re delivering and setting it up for you. If you’re building it yourself, having a level base ensures everything fits together snug and secure—and your coop will last longer because of it.

7. Smell? What Smell?

A lot of people assume chicken coops smell bad, so they put them far away from the house. But with a proper system—like the deep litter method—odor isn’t an issue. We use hemp bedding in our coop, and we only clean it out once every year and a half. There’s no stink. That’s why we design our coops specifically to accommodate deep litter—less maintenance, zero smell, and a healthier environment for everyone. And when it’s finally time to clean it out? You’ve got rich compost to use in your garden.

8. Make It Work for You

Your setup should fit your lifestyle. That means placing the coop in a spot where it’s easy to refill waterers, check on your flock, and do seasonal maintenance. Leave space around the coop for airflow and movement, and think about how it fits into the look and feel of your yard. It should be both practical and pleasant—after all, you’re going to be spending time there. Want to grow herbs or flowers nearby? Need extra space for a feeder? These little things matter more than you think when everything’s in use.

Need help choosing the best location? We’re always happy to offer advice before we deliver. We want your coop to be safe, dry, easy to access, and beautiful right where it sits. If you're not sure where to start, send us a photo of your yard—we'll help you figure out the perfect spot.

Need help choosing the best location? We’re always happy to offer advice before we deliver. We want your coop to be safe, dry, easy to access, and beautiful right where it sits. If you're not sure where to start, send us a photo of your yard—we'll help you figure out the perfect spot.

Check out our coops!