Chicken dilemma as it gets darker

[jbrianchamberli]

First timer who got chicks in the spring. Up until now my routine has been wake up, shower, leave around 7 and let the hens out on my way to work. In MD it's plenty bright by then. Now it's getting darker and I'm the last one to leave. I'm going to work earlier today and it has me thinking, soon it will be very dark when I leave for work. How do I free range the girls then? I need to leave in 30 minutes and it's dark as night outside. Very worried.

 

[igorsMistress]

I've been mulling over this issue myself.
Do you have a pop door? The chicken sized one that goes up and down. If so you can put a timer on it and set it for when it's light outside and it can automatically open the door for you.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

That's part of why I'm not going to free range when nobody's home. I was letting them out as I left for work (0515), into their run, but now as its darker and I know they are still asleep (and I heard coyotes one morning) I decided that my son could do it when he got up. Once he's started school again, he'll have to open the coop door at 0620 before he gets on the bus, regardless of how dark it is... otherwise they'll be locked up all day.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The predators that roam and hunt at night are also active during the day so whenever you free range you are taking risks, but they are more active in the dark. So yes, the risk is greater. I understand your concern. And to add to your concern it will soon be dark before you get home. You might want to add this to your considerations.

You could just leave things as they are and just open the pop door and take your chances. I know, you are looking for something better.

When I'm in that position I open the pop door so they can go out whenever they wake up or wait until I get home if I'm out late. But mine don't free range, mine spend their day in a well-protected run and inside an area protected with electric netting. They are pretty well protected from most predators all the time. So one answer is to install a run or an electric fence of some type to add to their protection level. That ends their total free ranging during winter but adds a protective layer to reduce risk.

As mentioned you can install an automatic opening, either on a timer or acting on a solar eye. Those can run on solar if you don't have electricity out there. That includes closing as well as opening.

Do you have a neighbor that can let them out and put them up for you? Unless you are good friends that could be asking a lot of them.

That's all I can think of. Good luck!

 

[jbrianchamberli]

An automatic door won't work the way I built it. It's a flip up door that I secure with a carabiner. I really only got chickens with the intent of free ranging them. They seem to enjoy the yard so much that I'd hate to lock them up all day.

Still thinking about what to do.

 

[igorsMistress]

Perhaps you can modify the door?
My flock is out all day too and eventually I'm going to have to do something too. Leaving them in the coop all day isn't an option. I'm going to have to add a pop door within a year I think

 

[cavemanrich]

Modify your pop door and install one of these. Battery operated and dawn to dusk operation automatically. $218 Ador1. Here is a pix of mine. I AM TOTALLY SATISFIED WITH IT.

If you are handy or know someone that can help you , here is a homemade version by someone here on BYC.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/diy-automatic-chicken-door.1194684/#post-18899713

 

[Mrs. K]

You can open the chicken door in the dark of morning. Most predators are holing up at that time, or not up and about in the early morning dark. You are risking them. However, you are risking them by free ranging them too. Many of us like to free range, until we loose too many to predators.

 

[Jacy0904]

Not real sure if it works but I have a light in the pen on a timer-I let them out early and close them up at nite, but the light seems to help-or maybe it just helps me. I have also been told that if you put a radio out close to the coop or pen it will keep predators away.