Are Coops really needed?

[Peringle]

I built a coop for my chickens then I put a perch outside the coop for them. Now the only one who uses the coop is the hen that's laying. She only goes in there to lay her eggs then she walks back out, all of them sleep on the perch. So, are coops really needed? I have been considering taking the coop out and just putting in some nesting boxes and adding more branches to the perch. Any suggestions or ideas?

 

[foreverlearning]

The coops protect them from predators and bad weather. You need something to keep them out of snow/rain/and extreme cold. Some people use hoop houses for this and they are basically runs with the back half covered by a tarp. You have to look at your area for the predators that you have to deal with and any extreme weather that you might have and decide from there.

 

[bwr719]

Coops make happy birds and happy birds make productive birds!!!

 

[Peringle]

Ok, I'll keep the coop