Backyard chickens in Severance, Colorado

Severance sits on the high plains of Weld County, Colorado at roughly 4,876 ft elevation, with a semi-arid climate marked by cold, dry winters, hot summers, intense sun, and significant day-to-night temperature swings. Coops should be built to handle sub-zero wind chill in winter and provide shade and ventilation for hot, dry summer days, with wind-blocking on the north/west sides being especially important on the open plains.

Backyard flocks in the Severance/Weld County area commonly face threats from coyotes and red foxes moving in from surrounding farmland and open prairie, along with raccoons, skunks, and aerial predators such as red-tailed hawks. Secure, covered runs with buried hardware-cloth aprons are recommended given the rural-edge setting of many Severance properties.