For hundreds of years, it was common to see families with chickens roaming the yard. However, with industrialization and the growth of the commercial poultry industry, backyard chickens became a thing of the past. Today, with a trend toward families wanting to understand the source of their own food, backyard chickens are now becoming popular again. In Southern Nevada, the desert heat poses the greatest threat, so it’s important to pick a breed that is not heavily feathered, such as Leghorns or Mediterranean breeds. The laws allowing for backyard chickens vary, and HOAs generally don't allow them. In Clark County, a maximum of three roosters are allowed, while Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson do not allow roosters at all. Universally, all jurisdictions agree that the hens must be confined to a coop or pen, although local cities differ on the number of feet from a dwelling place. The coop must be adequately ventilated, provide protection from wind, offer shade and have construction sand on its floor. Allow for 6 to 10 inches of roosting space per chicken. The roost also should be 2 to 3 feet high in the coop and somewhat flat.