Do you actually need a chicken coop?

I can see why people raising chickens commercially need coops, but do those of us raising chickens for personal consumption actually need a coop?

This question comes from my observation of my family compound in Nigeria. I'm half Nigerian, born in the US, and I've gone to visit my family about once every decade since i was 2 years old. I've been fascinated by the chickens since my first visit (I don't remember the 2 year old visit, but there are pics of me chasing the chicks).

There are about 20 hens, dozens of chicks, and a rooster running free on the property every time I'm there. The whole compound is probably about 1/2 to 3/4 acre in a somewhat urban environment... more dense than US suburbs, less dense than a city (the compound is large for the area)

During the day the chickens are roaming in and out of the property, and at night they all come back to roost in the branches of a tree, and the rafters of the various buildings on the property.

There are various predators in the area, with hawks flying over multiple times per day, snakes, and probably others as well.  There is certainly some loss to predators, but every time I've visited over the last 40 years there are about the same number of chickens. Nobody seems to really do anything to care for the chickens, they just grab one when they want to cook it, although maybe they feet them some grain? I've never witnessed that, but it is possible.

I was recently remembering this, and it lead me to wonder if coops are needed at all? I had some friends here in the US on a 2 acre property that were raising about the same number of chickens in a coop. They had all kinds of problems with predators getting into the coop and killing the chickens, although they lived in a rural area so perhaps there is a higher population of predators, especially during the night. They were also amateurs, so probably didn't know how to keep the chickens safe.

I can see the need in an urban setting in the US, and the value of a coop for egg layers, being able to have a place that gives you easy access to the eggs, but for meat chickens in a rural area is it really necessary to go to all the cost and hassle of a coop or chicken tractor?

I've never raised chickens myself, but I'm hoping to do so at some point.

Welcome to Permies! I'm sure some good answers will be coming your way.

Hello, I observed the same thing in several countries from UK, Brazil, Hawaii, even Japan over the years.  I have duplicated that in a few chickens10 living in a tree right next to my house.  They roam 3-4 acres usually much closer to the house.  I live surrounded by a raptor reserve, Eagles, 4-5 species of hawks, 2 species of Falcons, even Great Horned Owls. Coyotes, American Lynx, Dogs, Raccoons and a few other ground predators.  Chickens survive because of 1 large English Game rooster 8 years old, and 1 dog 3 year old Akbash had another Akbash previously.   Chickens as all creatures live longer in a natural environment despite predation.  Types of chickens do matter but, they have an interest in their own survival and the older teach newer chickens, and turkeys.  As well a few well placed nest boxes near their home tree high enough for no ground predators they even lay eggs year round through winter.  
I have a chicken tractor which I raise chicks in till they are a year old going through my orchard.  
Birds are vital to soil fertility, and I plant certain trees etc based on where they congregate.  Hope this helps, cheers.

I used to let the chickens free range. We lost a couple to hawks but usually they were good at scurrying under trees when the harrier was overhead. I had to go to some lengths to improve the fencing around places I didn't want them to go...gardens and neighbours in particular. Then I excluded them from about half the paddocks because that was easier than trying to fence the orchards.

After a couple of years with chickens only roaming the south half of the property, I began to notice a marked difference in the pasture cover. The plant mix under chicken pressure was less diverse, more dominated by grasses, with fewer herbaceous plants. And the closer you got to the coop, the more denuded everything was. This observation, plus the ongoing problems with strays, led me to curtail their freedom and now they are once again coop-only birds with lots of cut and carry green matter. The pasture recovered and now I let them out once or twice a month for an afternoon ramble.

Some chickens are smarter than others when it comes to predators.  Saw a video a while back where a fellow was trying to breed survival skills back into laying hens by crossing them with game hens, if I recall correctly.

Welcome to Permies!

I think the answer to your question is that it depends on what you are wanting. Chickens obviously need places to hide and protection from predators. In your example you use the word compound... most of the compounds in Africa that I have seen, have walls. This is going to protect against dogs, wolves, weasels, large wild cats, and other things that would eat and take several or all the chickens in one night. Being in the somewhat city area will also discourage theses. And people coming and going on errands would also discourage these. The rooster also provides some protection. Hawks and snakes might take one at a time, but won't kill a whole flock in one night. In essence... the whole compound IS the coop. A barnyard from a long time ago might have done much of the same thing. For people who need this protection, a coop can help.

Another reason someone might want a coop is to train the chickens to lay eggs there. If there is no central place for them to lay... they will lay anywhere they can, which means it is much harder to know IF the chicken laid an egg or how old the egg you just found is. Even for people who are not doing it commercially... many people buy chicken food, and some want to make sure the chickens are earning their keep. A coop with nesting boxes, makes it easier to keep track.

I think there are many different ways to raise chickens. I think most of the time we need to provide food/water/shelter in order for the chickens to be productive. And the shelter part can look different depending on your goals and needs.

Welcome to Permies, Afam!

That's a great question, and I think it depends on the climate - in cold climates it's necessary for the chicken to have shelter from the elements.
But in the situation you're describing, a coop is not needed!

David, I'm interested in the nest boxes you describe. Do you have a photo, and/or a description? My chicken free range, and it would be nice to have them laying in external nest boxes instead of under bushes and plants.

One batch of new hatchlings roosted in the fruit trees when they were teenagers, instead of joining the other chicken in the coop - it's probably their natural instinct!

Welcome to the forum!

If you don't provide a coop what kind of shelter do you propose to provide?