Thanks :) You can have your compost pile directly in the chicken pen. Take a look at that intro video, but keep in mind that requires much bigger biomass input that a family with a small garden can provide.
https://www.discoverpermaculture.com/FertileCompost
We don't have chickens, but when we do, we plan do make a smaller, modified version of the thing, without all the turning and with lower biomass flow.
Our compost have never been watered, as we regularly add moist material (fresh stuff from the kitchen and garden) and also it rains from time to time and the compost is not covered. For very rainy periods it's nice to be able to throw a tarp on top of the compost to prevent it being over saturated.
Location-wise, I'd say anywhere works. Ours is in mixed shade, has full sun for a few hours in summer and almost no full sun in other seasons. Also, the pallet sides and straw topping basically prevent the sun directly shining on the material.
Let me know if I can be of any further assistance :)
That video is perfect, this is exactly what I was trying to do!
Thanks very much!