Coop Door

[schooner]

Hello:

About to put my chicks into the enclosed run/coop, and want to know if I need to block the opening to the ramp that goes to the run at night?

Thanks.

 

[BarefootMom]

you should have a door, yes. I lock mine up as tight as can be.

 

[flowergirl60]

Yes you definitley should lock them up tight!

 

[patandchickens]

It is safest, no matter how secure you THINK your run is. A significant number of the "something at my chickens last night" posts in the Predators and Pests section of this forum come from people who were just certain they had built a Ft Knox type run... But, it is your choice. Supposing that you do install a door and close them in every night, you will either need to be out there AT daybreak every day to let them out, or have at least water, preferably also feed, in the coop with them.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Shadowgrass]

I lock mine every night. I only have food and water inside the coop. When they are out during the day, they just go inside if they are thirsty, they know where the goods are. A lot of people leave feeders outside, I don't because I don't want any unwelcomed guests. From home depot I bought some U shaped metal channel, 3/4", and used it as my door guides. I drilled holes and screwed to the inside walls of the coop. Dropped my door down into the two channels, then put a stop above on the coop wall where the door could open all the way, but not pop out of channels. Then I strung a cable from the top of the door, through an eye bolt, to the outside where it wraps around a cleat, this way I just pull the cable and the door pulls up to let them out. P.s. don't use rope/string, they peck right through it

. Then to close it, just the weight of the door (I used 3/4" hardwoord plywood) keep it closed. I put a piece of trim on the bottom of the outside (3/4" shoe molding) so that nothing could reach under the door and lift it from the outside. Hopefully I painted a clear picture, if not I can take some pics and post them. Seems to work for me.

 

[cottage19]

Ditto to what other are saying. We leave the pop door between the run and the coop open 24/7 in all but the coldest months and I think the girls like being able to get outside as soon as they wake up BUT our run is as secure as it can be with a roof-over, hardware cloth secured to 4x4's, a deep concrete footer and super locks on the entry door. They free range on most days and are usually lined up at the entry door waiting for me (and their treats) in the mornings.

 

[ECBW]

I do have a pop door so it gives me the flexibility. In my situation, the run is strong enough for the predators so the pop door stays open most of the year. It is closed in bad weather in the winter.