Question for the veterans

[sepaditty1]

I got my first chicks this spring and we now have 4 that are laying and 4 more that should start laying by the end of this month. We also ended up with 3 roosters. For now they all get along, so we'll just play that by ear.

So, my chickens have a fenced in area about 15 by 15 feet. Half of it is covered, but only one side is a solid wall. The rest is fence. The birds love it. They are happy as can be. At night they go up in the tree. I'm just unsure of when winter comes. I'm in South Carolina, so it's not snowy or super cold. But it does get cold at night.

Do they need an area that is totally enclosed?

 

[Judy]

Most people here do provide a shelter of some sort, if only as predator protection. I would not be comfortable if they didn't have a roof to keep the rain off. But they are birds and certainly survived for ages without coops. In your climate I would not have an enclosed building. They are far more sensitive to heat than cold.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/163417/please-show-me-your-hot-weather-coops/0_20

 

[Folly's place]

Some roofer area would be good; maybe a three sided shed? The big issue is predator protection; half inch hardware cloth and a dig proof floor, at least at night. Think Ft. Knox ; no digging chewing climbing critters getting free chicken dinners. Mary

 

[buttercup95]

I would say a three sided shed with a pallet on the bottom to keep them raised off the floor when the rain comes.

 

[aart]

Somewhere they can escape a chilly wind also.

 

[sepaditty1]

Thanks, guys. I think I will have the back wall closed in. Then they'd have a place to stay out of wind & rain.