Closing pop door at night

[stephgreen17]

This is our coop and run, and of course, our 6 ladies. Was wondering about leaving the pop door open at night. They go in every night, but are waiting for me to 'free' them from the coop in the morning. Was also thinking that leaving the door open would provide a little more ventilation on our warm evenings. Run is secured with hardware cloth on all sides, even underneath the entire run floor. They don't really roost inside at night, just pile on each other. But they love to roost in the run during the day. What do you guys think? I'm new to this whole thing.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The reason to lock them in at night is for predator protection. If you feel your run is predator proof you can leave the pop door open at all times. It’s your personal decision.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

This is our coop and run, and of course, our 6 ladies. Was wondering about leaving the pop door open at night. They go in every night, but are waiting for me to 'free' them from the coop in the morning. Was also thinking that leaving the door open would provide a little more ventilation on our warm evenings. Run is secured with hardware cloth on all sides, even underneath the entire run floor. They don't really roost inside at night, just pile on each other. But they love to roost in the run during the day. What do you guys think? I'm new to this whole thing.

Well if you have it secured against digging predators and the roof is covered, and you have used 1/2 inch hardware cloth then I would personally leave the pop door open in summer. However, raccoons can open latches if a toddler can do it, and bears can open anything. So nothing is absolutely safe.

There is always a risk of something finding a way in. I think I read one account of raccoons ripping apart a building where the building was a bit weak, and another person said their metal shed was ripped open by coons.

If they are absolutely irreplaceable chickens to you then close the door, is my opinion.

 

[iwiw60]

I see you've used 1/2" hardware cloth...good! But did you bury it "down and out" from the bottom perimeter? Weasels, raccoons, and especially fox can and will dig down and under....

 

[jetdog]

This is our coop and run, and of course, our 6 ladies. Was wondering about leaving the pop door open at night. They go in every night, but are waiting for me to 'free' them from the coop in the morning. Was also thinking that leaving the door open would provide a little more ventilation on our warm evenings. Run is secured with hardware cloth on all sides, even underneath the entire run floor. They don't really roost inside at night, just pile on each other. But they love to roost in the run during the day. What do you guys think? I'm new to this whole thing.

Nice coop congratulations, looks like the deer did a number on your bushes, with the floor wired in you shouldn't have a problem leaving it open, I chose a automatic door just for this very reason.

 

[Blooie]

I leave mine open. They get up WAYYYY earlier than I do!

Their run is made of cattle panels, welded wire, chicken wire against overhead predators, and hardware cloth partway up the run and extending well out from the bottom of the run as an apron to deter diggers. Worked, too - our hyper English Setter furiously tried digging under the first day the chickens were in the run and after a bloody, broken toenail she decided they weren't worth it! I have couple of chickens who prefer roosting all night on the branch that's in the run, rather than the coop. I imagine that will change when it gets down to 20 below here!

That said, I don't think anything is 100% predator-proof, but we all do the best we can and then learn. Your setup looks pretty secure and having the bottom in hardware cloth will help. But, as ChickensAreSweet pointed out, double check your latches! Seems when we get all the hardware cloth in and secured we usually think we've done all we can, but any opening designed for chickens or people is going to be a weak spot in your defenses.

 

[RonP]

I keep the door to the coup open 24/7.

I secured my run to keep a 200 pound dog out.
My dog is only 60 pounds, but i figure a 200 pound dog would be my worst nightmare.

My avatar shows a red fox attempting to get into the run midday.
I took the picture after watching for him 20 minutes or so. Very entertaining.

I sleep with both eyes closed

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