New here, need help setting up chicken areas

[barbara4rb]

Hello, I'm new to this forum, and hope I'm posting in the right place. I purchased property last year that has chickens on it. The chickens are free range, wandering between properties in the area. I have been feeding them all year, scratch, bread, clean water. No one lives on the property, except the chickens. (The neighbor calls them "jungle fowl".) They roost in Cottonwood trees at night, all year.

The property was a mess. We've cleaned it up alot, torn down an abandoned house. But chickens were using the house for sitting on eggs (hiding?). Now they don't have their hiding places any longer, and our chick mortality rate is high.

I want to provide safe places for hens to lay and hatch out their chicks. Have several dog houses with hay on the property. Hens have started laying in the hay, but the eggs are getting broken. (? by who? property is gated/fenced). I appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Eggs breaking could be a calcium deficiency. Any number of predators could be breaking them, or even the chickens themselves.

There are several types of inexpensive housing you could choose from. I like Hoop Coops myself, but they could be considered an eye-sore.

Are you living on the property? Were you fixing it up with the intent to sell?

 

[barbara4rb]

HI,
No, not living on the property--which is a problem, I know.

It is a pretty piece of property in 20 min from town. Someday I might build a house and barn. It is all fenced/gated, but have seen road runners hop the fence and chase after the chicks (mommas scheeching and protecting them).

How do I help counter the calcium def? Thanks for your help.