suitable settings for chickens

Hi everyone, I'm fairly new to this forum and new to the idea of keeping chickens. I've been mulling it over for some time and trying to read up on the subject, but just looking for some personal opinions here.
I have an allotment and have saved room at the back of my plot for a chicken coop, but i'm not sure I want to keep them there for a few reasons. Mainly the fact that I would want to let them roam free as much as possible, and there are loads of foxes on our allotment site. I'm thinking of keeping them at home instead, where we can really enjoy their company and treat them more like pets, and without the need of travelling to the allotment twice a day. However, our garden is quite small and is mostly patio pavement, with a few flower beds around the edges. Would this be suitable for a few chickens to peck around in, or would it be more suitable for them to have grassy bits to peck in? I am considering breaking up a small patch of the paving and getting some grass going, but is it really necessary?
Thanks very much for reading, if you've made it this far. I know it's a bit long.

And thanks for any opinions offered,

Carla

Thank you for that, but I can't seem to find the post you mentioned.

It doesn't matter much though, because I think I've changed my mind and am now considering keeping them on my allotment instead. More space and probably much more suitable for the type of chickens I'm thinking of. Although I think it would be easier to have them at home. I still may end up with some bantams at home in the future though! 

This one??

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=57614.0

I personally wouldn't keep chickens on concrete or in small spaces, but I know people do and the chickens as long as they are well looked after can be happy, and I'm lucky at the moment as I have a BIG garden.

Some people grow grass and other green stuff in troughs and pots and things so they can put one in the chicken area for the chickens to nibble on if they haven't got their own grass, and even if you did take some of the patio away and grow grass, the chickens would soon turn it to mud/dust!

Good luck with it!!  They are wonderful creatures!

be very careful if you have any let alone loads off foxes on your site. Build your run strong with a top/roof

You could also consider electric fencing run from a leisure battery.

Glad you're having a re-think Nellie.  I am sure that there are some very happy chickens on allotments but I would just worry that someone would harm them and, honestly, they are fantastic pets to have about - they are wasted on an allotment where their mad antics might go unnoticed! 

I would fence off a back corner of your garden (give them a sunny corner, if you can - it's easy to give them some shade but you can't give them sun if it doesn't shine on their part of the garden and they do love a bit of sunshine on their feathers).  If part of the flowerbed is in their run then that gives them somewhere to have a good old dig about (but I think I read somewhere on here about putting in a raised flowerbed - or even just an old kids' sandpit - which sounds a brilliant idea) - that's what mine do.  They have dug some lovely big holes under the shrubs in my flowerbeds and lay in them in the shade when it gets too hot. You could also put a few logs in for them to clamber about on and - bingo! - chicken heaven. 

I think you'll sleep so much better at night knowing you can just look out of the window to see how your girls are doing!

Oh, and do check with the neighbours (I assume you weren't thinking of getting a cockerel?).  I asked both of mine and they were thrilled - the lady on one side specifically leaves her bedroom window open so she can hear them bok-bok-boking away.  And a few eggs for them now and again keeps everyone sweet.

You won't regret it - they are fantastic.  My four girls are ex-batts and I have had them almost a year now - love them dearly and have so enjoyed watching them go from the oven-ready moth-eaten mess they were when they arrived to the four feathered footballs (ooh, perhaps I shouldn't mention that word!) that are currently rolling around their run (well, three feathered footballs and one moulting).

I did a lot of reading before I got them (sadly, only found this forum after they had arrived) but did panic a bit when I actually brought them home.  I was so worried I was doing something wrong but as long as you feed them good quality food, make sure they have fresh water and a clean home then everything else you can pick up as you go along.

Good luck Nellie!