Chicken Coops & Runs
How to safely and properly house your chickens in a chicken coop. A chicken coop can be simple to procure or build; ours are just converted sheds already on the property. A chicken coop doesn't need to be fancy. Still, it does require a certain amount of space per chicken, predator-proofing, weather-proofing, ventilation, nesting boxes for layers, roosting bars for sleeping, and it needs to be correctly managed and maintained for cleanliness and hygiene so that pests (like mites) don't take hold. A coop should also have access to a safe chicken run that has additional weather protection from wind, rain, and snow.
While chicken housing is simple, there are also common mistakes that many chicken keepers make, especially beginners.
We have implemented the deep litter system for our coop management, and I would never go back to anything else. Check that article out, along with my guide to chicken nesting boxes.