Chicken coops are a must-have, whether you live in a rural or urban area, to give your chickens a safe environment to roost and lay eggs, it can be heartbreaking to come home and find one or all of your chickens killed by a cat, dog or other predator.
A chicken coop or hen house also gives your chickens somewhere to seek shade in hot temperatures, and keep warm and dry in cooler temperatures, both 
very important for their health.
Nesting Boxes are important because your chickens need somewhere designed for laying eggs, or else they will find their own places to lay which can be difficult to find. I have personally spent time fruitlessly searching for secret nesting spots. It is also VERY unfortunate when you accidentally break a dozen rotten eggs
that you didn't know were there.
Now you can let your chickens roam your backyard or paddock, or wherever you intend to keep them, but, if you have a vegetable garden , intend on using that space for other activities or the area doesn't have sufficient fencing to keep chickens in, or you just like things to be tidy, rather than having chickens
roaming and pooing everywhere, I suggest you build
a 'chicken run' onto your chicken coop.
A chicken run is simply an enclosed area (usually with chicken wire) in which your chickens can exercise, get some sunlight, eat grass and bugs, and generally enjoy being outside, which is very good for healthy chickens.
Chicken Coops, Chicken Runs and Nesting Boxes, depending on size and quality can be very expensive, especially good wooden ones, but a much cheaper option is to build one yourself.
Build A Chicken Coop
