I raised chickens while I lived in Mexico for a few years. Once you know the difference between fresh and store-bought eggs, it's hard to ignore. When I noticed a house a few blocks over had a small backyard flock, I got jealous. So when I discussed (announced) the acquisition of a backyard flock with my husband, he ordered a book with simple plans for a chicken hutch. I'm scavenging wood as we speak, and looking forward to the project. We live in a rural town in a red state, so no gov't pushback.