Should I relocate the coop?

Hello,

I'm brand new to the forum as well as a new chicken keeper! I've been loving every minute with my four pullets, but I know at some point they are going to venture into the raised beds and I'm debating whether I should move their coop elsewhere. As it is now, the coop is somewhat of a focal point in the back and I love seeing them nearby. However for long term practicality I was wondering if most would suggest moving the coop to the side of the house and gate it off. It wouldn't be nearly as visible, but they would still have a decent sized space and the garden area would be more protected as well.

Any advice is appreciated!!

Hi Mike, welcome to Permies!  My guess is that your girls will quickly learn the full extents of their enclosure and go where ever they want.  So the coop placement probably won't change what they destroy and what they leave alone.  

My flock free ranges and commonly forages 100 yards away from their coop.

Mike Jay wrote:Hi Mike, welcome to Permies!  My guess is that your girls will quickly learn the full extents of their enclosure and go where ever they want.  So the coop placement probably won't change what they destroy and what they leave alone.  

My flock free ranges and commonly forages 100 yards away from their coop.

Thanks for the warm welcome fellow Mike!! I suppose I was hoping to put an a ~6 foot fence on the side to keep them in and then let them free range the entire yard for a half hour or so while I'm out there. Is it naive to think a fence that tall would keep them in?

I'm thinking a 6' fence will keep them in pretty easily.  I actually have a ring of rabbit fencing protecting some mulberry cuttings right in front of their coop and they haven't hopped over that.  So it might be easier to fence the raised beds two feet high.