All chickens need some type of shelter. They also need nesting boxes, or they will lay their eggs in the grass and you may not find them. Are your chickens going to be free range or in a contained area? Ideally, they should be in between. They need to be able to roam but be protected from predators. There are several things to consider before deciding to free range.
What are the zoning regulations? Many cities and towns restrict the number of birds you can have, how far from your house they must be, and how they must be kept. Many cities will not allow roosters in city limits. You do not need a rooster unless you want eggs to hatch. Hens will lay eggs without a rooster. The last thing you need is a neighbor calling the city to complain that your chickens are in their yard or garden, or your rooster is crowing all the time. The best thing is to have a fenced in area where your birds cannot escape. A good idea is to cover the area with netting or chicken wire to protect them. Each bird needs about 110 square feet to roam comfortably. If you are in the country, then you could free range. Even then, you need to provide shelter from the weather and predators.
Predators include coyotes, racoons, opossums, snakes, owls, hawks, eagles, and any other bird of prey. Domestic pets, cats and dogs, can kill your birds. Some dogs will protect your birds while others will chase and kill them. Cats can be hit or miss on harming your flock. You also don’t want your neighbor’s pets to attack your flock.
How much land is available for your chickens? This will determine how many birds to get. The area where they are kept will be void of any grass before long. Chickens like to scratch and dig for bugs and insects.
A tree in the area is nice since it will drop leaves and small fruits for the chickens to eat. A tree will also offer protection and a nice, shaded area on a hot day. If you have a large yard, you can use a movable shelter to let the birds hunt without tearing up the entire area. This will allow the birds to turn over your garden, freeing it of weeds and insects making the area ready for planting your crops for the year.
If you have a permanent shelter, a good way to keep it warm in the winter is to stack hay on the north side of the structure. You should have lights inside and out. Motion sensor lights on the outside of the shelter will help keep predators away. If there is no electricity near the shelter, then solar lights are a great option.
Your shelter will need bedding for the birds. Pine shavings or chopped straw are good options. You will need about 4 to 8 inches of bedding. It will need to raked often to remove the droppings. Chicken droppings are great for your compost pile.
Your shelter will need roosts for the birds to sleep on. This can be an old ladder, wood rod, or a tree limb. You should provide 8 inches per chicken, and it should be 2 feet above the floor, 18 inches from the wall, and 12 inches apart in height with a stair step configuration if more than 1 roost is used.
The nesting boxes should be 12 inches wide, 14 inches tall, and 12 inches deep. You will need 1 nesting box for every 4 to 5 hens. There should be a rail below the nesting box about 8 inches away.
There should be a ramp for the chickens to use to get to the nesting boxes. The boxes need to be in a dark out of the way place. An opening from the outside will make gathering eggs easier.
A small dirt patch with dirt or sand is good since chickens like to take dirt baths to keep parasites away. A small wading pool works great for this. Your chickens will love it. You can add swings and other items for them to play on.
You can build your own shelter or purchase one from a farm supply store. You can be creative and make it match your home, look like a ship, whatever you want. You will also want a place for food and water.
I’ve seen old trampolines used as a run. I’ve also seen tunnels from the coop to under a trampoline that is fenced around the edge. The chickens can hang out under the trampoline while the kids jump and go to the coop through the tunnel.
Here are some ideas for shelters.
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