Last updated on April 29th, 2022 at 01:33 am
A chicken coop is a great addition to the backyard. Still, it’s important to be aware of the potential for disease spreading from the chickens to nearby water sources, especially wells.
A chicken coop should be at least 50’ away from a well. This will prevent bacterial pathogens like Salmonella and Campylobacter from infecting your water source. They can cause mild to severe gastrointestinal illnesses, so it’s important to follow this guideline.
This Is How Far To Put Your Chicken Coop From a Well
According to the CDC, any livestock yard should be at least 50’ from any wells, which includes chicken runs and coops.
That way, you’ll lower the chances that disease-causing pathogens will navigate their way from the coop to your drinking water source.
Dangers of Setting Up a Chicken Coop Too Close to a Well
If you set up a chicken coop too close to a well, the water can be contaminated with numerous disease-carrying pathogens.
The two most common of these are Salmonella and Campylobacter.
Let’s talk about why these pathogens are very dangerous.
Salmonellosis
Salmonellosis, or Salmonella poisoning, is a gastrointestinal illness caused by a bacteria that lives in the intestinal tracts of animals like birds.
Baby chicks are especially likely to carry salmonella, although any animal can.
Each year, about 40,000 cases of salmonella poisoning are reported in the U.S., although this number may be lower than the actual number of cases.
Those with mild symptoms are less likely to report their cases.
Salmonellosis typically takes hold 12 hours to 2 weeks after exposure, and it can last from 5-7 days.
Campylobacteriosis
Campylobacter is a bacterial illness that causes gastrointestinal distress and diarrhea.
It’s one of the most common causes of diarrhea in the United States, with nearly all cases being isolated events rather than large-scale outbreaks.
In addition to diarrhea, victims of campylobacteriosis may suffer fevers, abdominal pain, vomiting, and cramping.
These symptoms usually start about 2-5 days after exposure, lasting approximately a week.
The severity and length of the illness can decrease with antibiotic treatments, so seeking medical attention is recommended.
Where To Set Up Your Chicken Coop
Setting up your chicken coop requires careful consideration of the landscape.
You want the chickens to be somewhere where they’ll stay weather-protected, dry, and safe from predators.
Additionally, you need the chickens to have plenty of room.
Many chicken owners choose to place their coops near the house, which allows them to keep watch over the chickens and quickly attend to them.
Close proximity to the house also makes it easier to run electricity to the coop to heat it in the winter.
Make sure that the ground where you set up your coop is level. That way, you’ll be able to set up the coop without gaps between the ground and the floor.
This prevents small animals like mice from living in the space beneath the coop.
You should also find a site with good drainage, as standing water can make the area uninhabitable for chickens.
Whether you allow your chickens to be free-range or keep them in a chicken run, you should provide plenty of foraging space near the coop with grass and other plants.
Chickens will eat grass, weeds, and a wide variety of other plants and seeds, as well as insects and even small rodents.
The coop location should have sunny and shady spots so that the chickens can seek out the amount of sunlight appropriate for the weather.
Additionally, you should ensure that the coop is wind-protected and will not let rain or sleet into where the chickens are roosting.
Tips for Setting Up a Chicken Coop for the First Time
If you’re setting up a chicken coop for the first time, there are plenty of things you need to take into account, in addition to the location of the coop.
You need to make sure that both you and the chickens are protected from potential threats, including predators, insect infestations, and disease.
Follow these tips to ensure that you and your chickens stay safe:
- Allow for airflow within the coop. Protecting your chickens from the chill of a draft may be your first instinct, but remember that your chickens also need plenty of oxygen. The air will prevent carbon monoxide and humidity from building up in the coop, and if you properly heat your coop, you won’t have to worry about the wind chill.
- Insulate the walls. Insulating the walls of your chicken coop will prevent heat from escaping the coop in the winter, even with airflow. It will also keep the heat out during the summertime, providing ambient indoor temperatures for your chickens year-round.
- Place the water and food on a raised platform. Ideally, chickens should stretch their necks up to reach food and water. This placement keeps chickens from overturning their water and food dishes, which they’re inclined to do if you place the feeders at ground level.
- Make sure your chickens get plenty of light. This can be natural or artificial light, so try installing a light in the coop or simply facing the coop’s windows towards the south. Chickens are more likely to be happy and produce more eggs when they get plenty of light.
- Avoid placing the coop near the brush. Keeping brush and other vegetation far from the coop will lower the chances of predators coming by the coop and disturbing your chickens.
- Line the bottom of your chicken run with chicken wire. Lining your run with chicken wire keeps predators like raccoons and cats from digging underneath the run’s fence and attacking your chickens.
- Make sure that all of your chickens make it into the coop at night. Leaving your chickens out of the coop at night leaves them vulnerable to predators, and chickens can easily hide in would-be roosting spots when they’re looking for a place to rest for the night. Count your chickens each night to be sure they made it inside.