Do I Need a Coop or Are Nesting Boxes Enough?

[sfives]

OOHHHH. Hahaha!
So, let me get this straight....Now with the rooster, will I notice that a hen will stay on her eggs instead of leaving them and then I'll just leave her on them? I could even add other eggs underneath her, right?

 

[Jolyn]

Personally i think your asking for trouble not having a place you can close them in for at night. If you haven't had any problems this far i think your pretty lucky. There are many predators that would like a nice little chick to munch on.

If you are ok with possibly loosing some to a critter than i think you are fine. Do they have roosts?

 

[speckledhen]

If you do not have a secure coop at night, eventually, you will have no more chickens. Even if you dont see predators, trust me, they are roaming, even in the city. Chickens depend on us to do what we can within our power to keep them safe.
Your hens may NEVER sit on their eggs, with a rooster, without a rooster. Broodiness is bred out of many production breeds today. A rooster has absolutely nothing to do with that.

 

[Katy]

No, having a rooster won't make her want to set on her eggs. That has nothing to do with having a rooster. It's a hormonal condition and it depends a great deal on what breed of chickens you've got. Some breeds very rarely if ever become broody and set on eggs, while other breeds go broody all the time. What kind of chickens do you have?

 

[sfives]

The yard is enclosed with a 6 ft fence to which I added chicken wire above that. Then they have an additional sheltered area at night (just for the elements) they go into, but you're right, other animals can get in there. Here, my main concern would be coyotes, but they can't get over the fence. I'm sure other animals can get in there, but I can't imagine what right now.

What's a roost? A perch? Sorry! Thanks!

 

[sfives]

Thanks everyone for being so nice while I figure this out.

I've got barred rocks, silkies, easter eggers, turkens, rhode island reds and white leghorns.

22 Hens and 2 Roosters of which 8 Hens are laying and the rest are babies now.

 

[sfives]

Oh, and a brahma.

 

[Jolyn]

Hawks are a concern too. Did you say the top is enclosed though?

Yes i guess a roost would also be a perch.

 

[sfives]

No. The top is open. I didn't know about Hawks. Big chickens?
Thank you!
Yes, they have perches.....I did read up on that and added them in for their little feet!

 

[Katy]

Silkies are known for going broody.