People complicate things way too much. I have 3 chickens in the back yard. I built a nice henhouse from culled lumber. I used a piece of wood from the bathroom remodel for the bottom and a bunch of cut 2x4’s some siding and a sheet of plywood from home depot. All damaged or scraps. I had some old shingles in the attic which I made a roof from. The only wood I bought new was the two 4x4 fence posts cut in half to make the corners. My wife spent more on paint than I spent on wood.
Then we put up a 500 dollar dog kennel to keep the chickens in and the dogs out. Chicken wire roof to keep raccoons and birds out. I put a 4” ABS pipe and a couple of elbows to make a feeder. A 50 dollar chicken waterer to keep them hydrated. We let them out some days to forage.
We can go away for 11 days and the chickens will be just fine. Worst case scenario is we have 33 eggs when we get back. I tell you what, if you crack open one of our free range organic sustainable home grown chicken eggs next to the one from the store, the difference is eye popping and jaw dropping. Huge golden yolks and nice thick shells. You just don’t get them.
Oh, you betcha about the yolks. Night and Day difference!