so far, it costs almost as much as my last car to set up a flock in proper conditions.

Can you start smaller?

local sightings of coyotes and feral cats the size of bulldogs says no - the covered pens are a must.

scrap lumber and pallets, you'd be surprised how cheaply a coop can be cobbled together. Chickens do just as well in a shanty as they do in a store-bought.

How many chickens were you planning?

four - but in addition to the coop and yard, I was also looking at veterinary services in the area. Just all sorts of yikes at every turn.