Coop run door

[21_chickens]

Hi! I live in Massachusetts. We currently are in the middle of a snowstorm. My chickens didn’t want to go outside because of this. Do I leave their coop door to the run open (the run is shoveled) or do I leave it shut and keep them inside?

 

[imnukensc]

Leave it open. They'll come out if they want to or won't if they don't.

 

[chickens really]

Depends on how cold it is outside and if Run is covered?

 

[PirateGirl]

Depends the weather. I locked all my birds in their houses in Colorado this weekend due to a blizzard. I can count on one hand the number of times I've locked them in in 4 winters. I generally like to let the birds decide if/when they want to go out. If the winds are extreme bringing windchills well below zero F is when I tend to lock them in to also minimize any snow/drafts within the coop. If your run is shoveled and the winds/temps aren't too extreme, I'd leave the door open and let them decide.

 

[Mayakovsky]

If you are worried about cold winds entering the coop when the door is open, consider hanging PVC strips in front of the opening.....this affords them protection from the colder air and winds as well as gives them the option of being in the run or the coop during the day....be sure to check your humidity levels in the coop if you decide to do this, but you should not have a problem....

 

[Ridgerunner]

I leave the pop door open and let them decide. I took this photo when it was 4 degrees Fahrenheit. As long as the wind is not blowing cold doesn't seem to bother them. If a cold wind were blowing they would not have been out like this.

When mine wake up to a new white world, they don't go outside. They don't like change and that can be a big change. Often, after a couple of days, some will get brave and go out in it, but not immediately.

The snow fell the day I took this photo after they were already out. The change was gradual enough that they never went inside. And there was no cold wind. The temperature was pretty warm, right at freezing.

I figure my chickens know more about being chickens than I do so I leave these kinds of decisions up to them.