Prepare the yard

A flock fails in the first week when housing is an afterthought. Finish the coop, run, and water before you collect birds.

Checklist

• Dry floor, no standing water, bedding you can replace
• Latches a raccoon or dog cannot open; hardware cloth, not chicken wire, on openings
• One nest box per 4–5 layers, off the floor, dark and clean
• Shade and wind break; extra drinkers in heat
• A place for composted litter away from the coop door

Do not wait for “perfect.” Secure, dry, and easy to clean beats decorative.

In this series

Yard prep, purpose and breed, brooding, stages, the daily walk, eggs, light and nests, flock dynamics, off-lay, and when to call a vet.