What I discovered by accident with my backyard free-ranging chickens -- I used a half plywood sheet propped on cinderblocks to shade the chicken water and feed but I saw the chickens dive under it when a hawk flew into the patio plus they took afternoon snoozes under the shelter too (rather than go into their shaded pen). I decided to set a pop-up canopy with legs buried in the ground so it doesn't para-sail in the wind. Under the canopy I set their water, feed, dust bath area, and several large recycled old doghouses. They use the canopy as shelter from the rain, from the hot summer sun, and the doghouses also shelter from rain or wind. We scattered a couple more plywood shelters on cinderblocks, used cedar lawn furniture and benches, potted plants, trees, etc, anything that will shelter them from rain, wind, sun, or visiting Cooper's Hawks (haven't lost a Silkie to a hawk in 5 years and they will be just 5-feet away but won't go after a hiding hen). I also noticed the hens like to hug the fence or house when foraging rather than being in open areas so all the shelters, canopy, and doghouses are close to the fence line with furniture and potted plants filling up the more open spaces. I have one hen that likes to snooze/hide alongside my black compost bin; another one likes it under the stickery rose bushes. Still in heavy and cold rain I don't let the chickens out in the yard. They just have to be content to huddle in the coop and pen on those heavy rain days which don't happen often here in SoCal.
