Best orientation for hen house

[Margaid]

I'm bringing my Solway henhouse home to house the Welsummer cockerel and pullet I'm collecting at the Fed. It has a closeable vent at the back and permanently open vents at the front above the pophole. There is also a small hole each side where the second perch went through.

The site is very exposed and there is no shelter from hedges or fences - the ground near the hedge, which runs roughly north/south is waterlogged. The prevailing winds are south westerly and really cut up the valley, so which way round should I place the henhouse? We can secure it so it won't blow over if we put it sideways to the prevailing wind. If the back faces the wind it might make cleaning out difficult if it's windy.

I'm also finally finishing the refurbishment of the wooden house with attached run. That is also a problem as the house is quite high off the ground. The vents are front and back and are permanently open. It will alos have an Onduline/Coroline roof so there will be good ventilation. I'll need to attach plastic to the bottom of the run, at least at the back and one side to stop the rain blowing in. So any suggestions as the best way round to put it?

Both houses will be inside 50m of electric poultry netting.

All opinions welcomed, Thanks, Margaid

 

[chrismahon]

Our houses all have at least one of the two cross-coop vents closable. The closable vent faces the prevailing wind. The redundant perch holes need blocking off otherwise they will create low level draughts. Anchor the coop with eyes screwed into the structure at the top roped to dog restraints in the ground. They screw into the ground very securely if there is enough soil and few rocks. If it's that windy Margaid chose your chickens carefully. Our Orpingtons would never leave the coop if the run was windy.

 

[Margaid]

They are Welsummers Chris and the new ones are coming from very hardy stock on the edge of the Brecon Beacons. The breeder told me they were struggling to cross the field on Sunday when it was windy.

Picked up the hen house this afternoon and had to chase 2 Welsummers and 2 Houdans out of it - I wasn't sure if my original Welsumers were using it as they had seemed to prefer the Poultry Palace, but it seems they might be after all. Because of it's shape (like a mini Anderson shelter) it will probably be easier to strap right over it.

When the building work is finished and we can get the small field cleared up I'll put the run there. It's quite sheltered and has trees to provide shade. The only drawback is the distance from any water supply and I'll have to consider from where to power the electric fence.

 

[BabyBantam]

You can buy windbreak mesh for strong winds when planting new hedges. It has holes in it so the force is cut rather than the wind just blowing round it and creating eddies. Might this help to 'soften' the wind before it hits the house. You could attach it to posts and fix up close to the house to protect it?
I have a friend on a windy hill who used it as fencing around his run. It did a great job and the chooks where all happy to roam even in the worst winds.

 

[Margaid]

Thanks BB, I'll look into it. Problem at the moment is the ground is either too hard to get a post in (minus 2.9 outside at the moment) or else it is so wet they start rocking in the wind - the joys of living on solid clay. Also I don't wan to do anything too permanent as it is only a temporary position.