Chickens in coop at night/work?

[gottadance]

I have two questions - do chickens always get locked in the coop at night? Do they go in there themselves at dusk or do you have to encourage them to go in there or round them up?

What do you do during the day if you are at work - do you just let them roam in a covered pen and in/out of the coop?

 

[ralleia]

They go in and out of the chicken door (between the fenced yard and the coop) ALL DAY to eat, drink, lay eggs, and do whatever it is that chickens do best.

Make sure to leave the door open during the day--they will naturally go in to roost when it starts to get dark.

Then you lock them up EVERY NIGHT to keep them safe from predators (learned this one the hard way when something scaled the chicken fence and dragged off a hen).

The only fowl that I had that were too stupid to do this on their own were the guineas. SHEESH I hated those birds!

 

[chicky_mommy]

I live in NECT, we have ALOT of foxes and racoons and cyotes in the area so for us it was crucial to put the birds in the coop at night and mostly they go in on their own, sometimes roosters have to be incouraged. Durring the day I'd say you are fine to leave them in a run especially if it is covered.

 

[snowflake]

they go in by themselves, You want them to go in during the day to lay, or you will have and egg hunt every day. always lock them in at night for safety. mine free range all day, hubby is home but not to watchful, we have had no problems, dogs seem to keep predators away.

 

[allieloveschickens]

my girls put themselves to sleep at night, I let them free range while I am at work, I just close them up when I get home- they are always already inside- smart girls!

 

[kittycooks]

At my last house I could let the chickens out during the day and in the evening after work I would feed them scratch so they easily trained to go to the coop when I got home. Do lock your chickens up during the night to protect them.

At my current house I have open sky with hawks and cannot free range. I built a covered run and chose breeds that accept confinement. They are very happy hens.

 

[jerseygirl1]

Quote:
Exactly what I do

 

[gottadance]

Thanks - OK - that's what I was wondering - there are regularly hawks here during the day, so I'll definitely have to cover the pen. I just don't want them to be confined all day while I'm at work. That's great that they generally go back to the coop at night. Yay smart chickens!