is it necessary to make a coop?

[Young Heritage]

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Yes, they can. It just may be hard to find their nest if you want the eggs. If not then it is no problem. Still just expect some loss.

 

[Time-Out]

We're not having a run, but we are getting a coop, just so the ladies can sleep somewhere at night. In the day, the door will be left open for them to free-range. Even if there are no predators, I think it's important for the ladies to FEEL safe, then they won't be tempted to fly off and serve some other person with their delicious eggs!

 

[7L Farm]

Dogs & cats will kill chickens. I would provide your chickens with a coop. Sure you can have a dog without having a dog house. But the dog would be better off having a place to get out of the elements unless he's kept inside. Same with chickens the coop gives them a place to roost & a feeling of security. The coop will relieve stress on the birds. I would not own any birds if I couldn't provide for them something will eventually get them. Trust me. There's always something out there roaming around that will kill your chickens.

 

[Young Heritage]

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Good point, very true.

 

[Nicole01]

Yes, dogs can kill chickens in an instant. They also need protection against the weather elements. We built our coop inside our garage, which is 100% predator safe when both doors are closed. Our city ordinance also requires us to build a coop and run for our chickens.

People leave their dogs run at large all the time whether it's city or country. There are strays as well and if the dogs smell chicken, you better believe they will find a way to kill them.

 

[ladyride]

All animals need a home in this case a coop for your chickens , it does not have to be all that big or fancy . You have a home where you sleep at night & feel safe so should your chickens. Dogs & cats kill chickens. They should have a safe place to live & proper food to grow up & give you eggs .

 

[Judy]

Dogs are a major predator in the US. The worst of it is they kill for fun, and will kill many at once, rather than just taking one or two for a meal. If your chickens can get high enough to avoid them, you will probably do pretty well without a coop. Chickens can and do find places to nest, but they are almost always on the ground. When nesting, they are likely to stay on the nest to protect their eggs or chicks, so are at even more risk from dogs. Perhaps you could set up a raised, sheltered area for setting eggs and raising chicks. You might find centrarchid's posts quite informative!

You could set up a roof and single wall of some sort, as shelter from weather if they want it, with nest boxes under the shelter. You will have a hard time finding eggs if they don't lay in a nest. This could also be a place to keep their feed out of the weather.

 

[wsmoak]

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I remember Makati as being primarily a business district, but it's been a few years since I've been there. In any case, I think it's densely populated. Where are you planning to keep the chickens, in a small back yard? In that case you might be able to get away with a perch (large branch?) and a nest box set up off the ground under some kind of shelter (piece of wood or bit of old tarp?)

You certainly don't have to worry about them getting cold, but it would be nice if they had somewhere to get out of the rain. And you want to encourage them to stay around, so giving them a safe place will help.

-Wendy

 

[ECBW]

I imagine your setup can vary widely based on each's situation. In a tropical urban environment, a coop might be open on three sides, or a covered run.

 

[Hawkeye95]

How about you set up a tarp for protection over the area you are going to keep them, so they are protected from the rain and sun, and then put a roost under the tarp. I noticed a lot of people use a covered kitty litter box for a nest. None of that would be expensive, since it sounds like you are trying to think of cheap ideas. I don't think any of that would cost too much, and you wouldn't have to build a coop.