Best practice: Sleep in coop or run?

[ddennis06]

Hi All! Very very new chicken owner here. I live in Los Angeles beach area so our nights right now are 55-58 degrees. Anyway, my chicks just started sleeping outside (they are 2 months old) in their coop but they only want to sleep on the roosting bar in the run. Is that an issue or should I lock them in the actual coop at night?

 

[ZiaEggcelente]

I think as long as the run is predator proofed they are fine

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Hi All! Very very new chicken owner here. I live in Los Angeles beach area so our nights right now are 55-58 degrees. Anyway, my chicks just started sleeping outside (they are 2 months old) in their coop but they only want to sleep on the roosting bar in the run. Is that an issue or should I lock them in the actual coop at night?

Hello, and welcome to BYC!!!! So glad you joined and I look forward to stories and photos of your chicks!

But yes.... It's an issue if there's ANY danger at all of predators getting in, or if it rains and they're not under cover, or if you need to leave for a weekend or overnight trip, or.....

However, since your climate is so very mild in winter, it's really up to you how to handle it. In colder, wetter climates it's best to lock them inside a coop at night. But I know that folks in Florida and other tropical-like areas use "open air" coops, which are basically just a VERY secure covered run with a sheltered area at one end with roosting bars and nesting boxes. A coop may be too hot in summer, unless there is LOTS and LOTS of open ventilation.

Up to you. But once you teach them to go into the coop at night, they'll go on their own. But it may take several nights of you putting them inside on a roost before they get the idea. My young birds often have to be taught to go inside at night, but I let them figure out the roosting arrangements.

 

[ddennis06]

Thank you for the info! I’ll have to post some photos of my new best friends soon. Appreciate your advice