Backyard Flock

Hereis a view of our suburban yard ...complete with chicken run. My amazing hubby built this simply in the corner of the postage stamp of a yard that we have. The best part is the chicken house!
Check it out! He used the bottom of my boy's fort tower. There is a door, and boxes are built in the upper right side for nesting. On the backside facing the other tower ladder is a little door that I can access the nest boxes for eggs. They also free range during the morning and late afternoon hours, but I have to keep an eye on 'em, because they want to dig up my potted plants! A great resource for anyone interested in a backyard flock is http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychicken/index.html
I love the creativity of people's coops and all the good hints. I don't have a rooster, since I don't need one to have eggs...I am in a neighborhood in a big city, even though keeping chickens is legal, I don't want to annoy my neighbors! Don't like to draw to much attention! My girls are awesome waste disposers..Yep chickens are not to picky at all, and mine love scraps of all sorts from my kitchen.
Survival Mom mentioned a concern for the heat where she is. I have lost one chicken to heat stroke and it isn't pretty. They need shade, room to move, earth to scratch down in and get a dust bath, and there is always a full bucket of cool water. Yes I have even misted my girls down with the hose if it is relentless, here in Texas it can be over a 100 degrees for days on end . I even spray the outside of the coop with some water so that it will stay cooler. Lots of room to move and shade with water are most important.

Keeping chickens has taught my boys a lot about responsibility, and appreciation of a food source and taking good care of it. I love the eggs we get as they are obviously fresher, as well as having a rich orange dense yolk. I know my birds are happy and spoiled,and we like 'em that way!
Cluck cluck!