A study was conducted to document the housing practices of native chicken farmers in Kannur and Kozhikode districts of Kerala, India, with emphasis on provisionof night shelter (coops), construction materials, placement, dimensions and floor space of coops, and other housing features. A total of 63 coops were assessed through farmer surveys and direct observations. Almost all households (98.44%) provided night shelters, reflecting their importance in preventing predation, particularly in this hilly region. Wood was the predominant flooring material (52.38% in Kannur; 66.67% in Kozhikode), while roofing material differed between districts, with tiles more common in Kannur and thatch in Kozhikode. Wooden walls were more prevalent, although wire mesh use was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in Kannur. Coop placement generally balanced easy accessibility for monitoring with distance to minimize odour. Most of the coops located within 10 m from the household. Elevation above ground was practiced variably, with benefits recognized for reducing termite damage and waterlogging. Significantly (P<0.01) more coops in Kannur (38.1%) exceeded 2 ft in height compared with Kozhikode (P < 0.01), where shorter coops predominated. Larger coop areas (>8 sq. ft) were also more common in Kannur (57.14%) than Kozhikode (16.67%), indicating district-level variation in housing capacity. Floor space per bird was generally low, with 57–60% of farmers providing only 0.5–1.0 sq. ft. Other practices included provision of nest boxes, perches in only 11% of coops, and use of sand as littermaterial rarely. Overall, the study indicates that although farmers rely on inexpensive, locally available materials, there is considerable scope for improving coop design, floor allocation, and durability to enhance bird welfare, productivity, and returns.  

Highlights

• Widespread use of shelters highlights their role in protecting indigenous chickens from predators.
• Regional differences exist in coop dimensions and construction materials between Kannur and Kozhikode.
• Coop space is limited to 0.5–1.0 sq. ft. per bird, as housing is provided only during nighttime.