Do I Need a Coop or Are Nesting Boxes Enough?

[sfives]

OK. So, do I need to put a roof or something over the nesting boxes?

 

[speckledhen]

Yep.

 

[sfives]

Thanks. I love your pic Queen.

 

[Linda in San Diego]

Well, since San Diego County is warned that we may get "measureable precipitation" this weekend, I would certainly hope that your flock has someplace to be during the rain.

Here in my part of SD county we have seen foxes, coyote, raccoons, rodents of every description, possum, garter snakes, possum, and hawks. I don't know where you are in SD county, but I am 15 minutes from down town, if I still lived in Jamul there would be more preditors than we have here. Oops, forgot to mention neighborhood dogs and cats.

I feel secure from many of these because the Delightful Dozen are surrounded by a 6 foot fence, but at night they are in a solid built coop which is in a secure run, all of which is in the yard with 6 foot fences. My neighbor behind me lost both of her hens to raccoons because they were not locked up at night.

Best of luck with your girls - where in the county are you?

 

[sfives]

Hi. I'm in Fallbrook. My 8 girls, now turned brood of 24, are secured with a 6 ft fence topped with chicken wire. I've never had any problems and I like the feel of a free-range yard for them. I'm just completely new to the idea of having they lay, a rooster, a real coop, etc.

 

[GopherBoyFarms]

no matter where you are there are preditors that will go after your chickens and a fence wont keep them safe at night, coons can climb and so can cats, my cat climbs our 6 foot fence all the time...climbs the chain link like a ladder. I would look at peoples coops on here and get an idea of what you need for your flock. Our flock free range all day from sun up to sun down and at sun down they are locked into the coop safe and secure all night. I dont think anything could get into our coop and I know my girls are safe from attacks and from the elements. I couldnt imagine just leaving them out all night and our entire property is fenced.

 

[chickenannie]

Nothing is inherently wrong with letting your chickens just run around in a fenced yard. The issues are as folks have mentioned above:

-predation
-protection from rain, wind, cold
-feeling of safety and security for the hen
-they prefer to roost up off the ground (roost could be outside a coop)
-they might escape
-control over their location
-needing to separate hens from each other for any reason

Also, the only thing a rooster does is make the eggs fertile that the hens are laying. Broodiness in a hen is an instinct, usually strongest in the early spring, and lesser through the summer. All you need to do to "encourage" a hen to go broody is to make sure you have a nice reasonably dark private nestbox and don't take the eggs out. When she lays 12-14 eggs, she MIGHT go broody. Time will tell.

Plus dont' forget you must maintain a 1:12 or 1:15 rooster to hen ratio. More roosters than that and they can overbreed the hens which can cause damage to the hens becuase it tears up their backs and necks. Now you will know why so many people on here talk about re-homing roosters.

Plus a rooster crows (possibly in the nighttime and throughout the day as well) and if you are in a neighborhood, the neighbors will probably become very irate at this. There is nothing you can do to stop a rooster from crowing.

 

[Akane]

You can still have a completely free range flock and a proper coop. Chickens don't roam while their sleeping. You lock them up when they go to sleep and you let them out when the sun comes up. Or if you prefer to sleep in you get them an automatic pophole door that opens to a light sensor or timer.

That would be the best thing for your flock. Otherwise some night you may lose all of them. Chickens are easy prey at night. They can't see in the dark and they just get really still when it's bed time. Even chickens that you can't get anywhere near during the day will hardly complain if you scoop them up after dark and move them around. Without a solid coop a predator can just stroll on through and pick your chickens off as it pleases. Even with a fence you still have climbing and flying predators. I have heard of people losing guineas roosting on the roof of their garage, coop, or house to large owls. Also does your fence go into the ground or have a skirt? Predators easily dig under a fence. I lost a bunch of guinea pigs that way. Good sturdy outdoor grazing pen for them with a solid roof and in the 10mins we weren't watching during the middle of the day a dog dug right under the edge 2-3' down and killed all of them.

You don't have to build something huge that you can walk into. Some people have little coops or even dog houses with doors raised up off the ground for the chickens to roost (sit on their perches and sleep) in.

 

[sfives]

You all are amazing and have given me such great information. Thanks. I think I'll definitely enclose the partially enclosed area I have for them now so that they are at least completely safe at night. As for this broodiness issue, I guess I need to be sure to not have too many rooster and just watch and see what the hens do on their own.