Do I have to close the pop door if in a fully enclosed run

[TroutsChicks]

gosh, thats an awesome coop! can me and my 16 girls move in too? LOL

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

Quote:
Thanks, The more the merrier.

 

[Montana-Hens]

Yes! Predators will be through that door in no time flat at night!

 

[eggcamefirst]

I have an enclosed run and coop and I always shut them in at night. For one it gives me a chance to check on them each morning and evening and two I never have to worry about something getting them as the coop is raised and entirely secure. Since the birds never move at night ANYTHING that gets in could kill/hurt them.

 

[Skittleinaustin]

Thanks for the suggestions and input. I'm going to spring for an auto opener. Now to troll the forums for suggestions on which ones to get and ideas for solar ones since I've got no power to the area but plenty of Austin sunshine.

 

[7L Farm]

I don't have a pop door my coop is three sided . But I also live where its super hot.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

When someone asks about doors, closing up at night and ventilation everyone needs to take in to account where the poster is from when answering. Those of us who live in the south and hot climates need more open style coops than those that live where it gets cold and snows. It is perfectly acceptable and very common for hot climate coops to be 3 solid walls and roof with hardware cloth covers the rest of the open space. The heat can kill the chickens just as easily as a walking predator. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The way I understand this, you have a three sided coop with wire on the fourth side. It is inside an enclosed run. I'm assuming that since you want an automatic pop door, you will not be there to open and close it every morning and night.

Whether or not you need a pop door depends on your confidence in the run. It is possible to build a predatro proof run. The bigger it is, the more expensive it gets. It also takes more dilligence to make sure you don't have a weak spot where something can climb, dig, or squeeze through, especially if the run gets to be any size. But it is possible.

The other thing to consider is the predators you are protecting against. It is real hard to keep snakes, rats, and some weasels out. Raccoons and foxes are easier. But any of them can exploit a weakness in your defenses.

In your climate, I really don't know of any reason other than predators to worry about having a pop door or an open side. You can use a pop door and use hardwire cloth on the open side to make it real predator proof if you wish. It is just up to your confidence in how predator proof your run is.

One of the automatic pop door vendors is an advertiser on this site. I don't know how good that particular door is, but you might want to contact a moderator for contact information.

 

[True Grit]

I don't close the pop door unless it is really cold, but I believe I have a secure run plus it is inside a fenced area with a hot wire around it. The type of fence I have wouldn't stop anything but I hope the addition of the hot wire will deter the main predators we have here.

 

[7L Farm]

I have one coop that is protected with hot wire but one thing I do is check it every evening to make sure its working & nothings grounding it out such as grass sticks etc. Its been super dry here so I usually poor out the remaining water from the waterers on the ground near the ground pole.