do i need to close the coop door if the run is secure?

[mom2chicksandpups]

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I went to a Phish concert years ago in Atlanta. It was great! My daughter is 10 now and it was a few years before she was born. (Man, I feel old admitting to that.)

 

[Namble]

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Same here.

 

[rainbowgardens]

I would need a very secure run in order to do that.
I haven't built one yet, so I have to close the coop up faithfully. We've seen foxes, raccoons, possums, skunks and owls in our yard in the evening. We free range, and the dog patrols the yard, but if we're not home, the dog isn't out to stand guard.
A sturdy run is next on my list to build. I'd like to have a life that doesn't end at sundown!!

 

[Kim_NC]

We lock ours in a night, every night. We have coons, possums, skunks and coyotes. We keep traps out constantly. Our flocks have secure runs and pasture areas for them to free range, but we just won't risk it.

 

[BroomFarm]

We had the same concern, so what we did was fairly inventive, I think. We built coop-knox, per many of the recommendations on this site. Then, we built a very heavily constructed run that is 6X8 (we have 5 hens) and permanently and securely attached to the coop. It's covered with hardware cloth and while I'm not going to say it's impenetrable, but I would be very surprised if a predator ever made its way in. Our dog hasn't let anything hang around long enough to find a weakness, if there is one.

Outside of that area, we have a much larger (~2500sf) run that is fenced, but not covered. The ladies can scoot back into the secured run if they feel threatened and we feel comfortable knowing that once we've closed the door they are as safe as we can make them.

We like the way it has worked out because the smaller run is easily maintained and accessed. At the same time, it's big enough for them to hang out in the morning until we go feed/water and let them free range.

 

[cmom]

I agree with the other posts. My birds free range. I have an electric fence around my coop, run and a fenced in chicken yard. I never shut their pop door even when I'm home. It's always opened. No predator is going to mess with the fence (6000-8000 volts). I have accidentally touched it before. I got quite a shock. I can only imagine a critter who weighs far less than I do coming in contact with the wire. I have heard some critters that found the fence and I guarantee they will not be back.

 

[Monk]

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I have been leaving my pop door open all the time, which is in the secured run, with no problems. But I am going to add some electric fencing for a little more insurance also.
I need to find a brave soul to test my fencing, interested???

 

[Uppity Peon]

I close then up but I'm paranoid. My neighbor does not even have doors to close.

 

[rmc85]

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+1 Been there and done that.

Ask my GF what a crazy person I looked like when I ran inside using every cuss word in the book simultaneously and grabbing a rifle.

NOT FUN!