At What Temperature Do You Start Closing up the Coop?

[biddyboo]

We close our coop doors and popdoor into the barn pen nightly. I know we cannot prevent predators 100%, but we do as much as we can to secure their sleeping quarters. I'd be very concerned about leaving doors open at night. Our metal barn is closed up nightly also so once the popdoor outside is closed, the indoor hens are safe. We open both areas first thing in the mornings so the hens have early access to their water and feed. Vents are always open in our 4X6 coop. We've had no problems after two years of chickens. ~G

 

[SandyK]

We recently installed our automatic pop door opener and now think we died and went to Heaven!! As soon as we moved the girls into their new coop, DH hooked it up, wasn't hard at all. Now they come out on their own when the door goes up. Everyone needs one of these!!!

 

[aprile]

I lock my birds in their coop every night, without exception. This is to keep them safe from predators. They free range all day and toward dusk they mosey to the coop where they fill up on laying mash before roosting. We go out just before dark and close and lock the door. First thing in the morning I let everyone out. It is my experience that, without exception, predators will find your flock. And once you witness that heartbreak you will do whatever you need to to protect them. Be sure your coop stays dry in year-round, keep the wind off of them. But fresh winter air is fine and healthy. FYI' we dug a trench around our coop where we poured cement and buried heavy gage wire. We pulled the wire up around the coop about a foot high where we trimmed it out with wood. This keeps any clever racoons,etc. from being able to dig under.

 

[AtholCoop]

I close my coops up when the birds stop wanting to go outside. Which is usually when the temps get down around 0 degrees farenheit. Obviously I leave some venting opened up so as to avoid moisture build up, but if they aren't going to head outdoors anyway there's simply no point in leaving the door open.

 

[FlashPointFarm]

I only close mine up when snow is blowing in.

 

[Mahonri]

I shut the windows and turn on the AC when I know it will be over 105 degrees.

other than that, the windows are open.

 

[gryeyes]

The Big Coop with the most mature chickens has an automatic door, which is WONDERFUL. I have to open and close the doors on 3 other coops, though, which I do every morning and night. I will cover the wire-covered windows with their plexiglas "window" coverings much later in the year (here) when it gets much colder at night.

Security is the reason for closing the pop doors nightly. Windows will get their coverings when the temps drop into the 30s.

 

[turbo13]

My coop is insulated with aluminum foil with compressed bubble pressed inside the foil. The manafacture states that no condensation will collect useing this.The coop is 6x12' and insulated top and sides.My vent are 12''12''near the top wall. and a smaller one near the roost.Do you think that I should have more vents installed,before the snow flys? Also there is a sliding window 3'x4',any suggestions?THANKS

 

[NHchicks]

If locking them in only means closing the door, I do that all year against predators. But a lot of my coop is wire mesh (except for a smaller enclosed part) so in winter I have been tarping it up to protect against wind and cold. But this winter I plan to board up the coop altogether (mostly) with removable siding panels so that in the spring it can go back to being more of a summer coop. (Kinda like storm windows, only storm walls)

I remember running to Lowe's in December last year on a bone chilling, bitterly windy day to get the tarps to keep my hens warm. This year I figure by late November it will be time to board up the coop, maybe even earlier.

Plexiglass would probably make really neat removable storm walls for the coop and let light in at the same time, but as of today, I am not rich. Maybe tomorrow.

 

[gjfarm]

Pop door is open 24/7 all year long, but my run is chain link and wire so pretty much predator proof. Do have a heated waterer since water is vital even during cold weather. The upper windows which are presently screened can be shut so no cold will be blowing on them when roosting. They will go outside to the run even during the coldest days except if there is more than an inch or so of snow on the ground.