do they need to be locked inside at night?

[Judy]

I don't lock mine up at all. It's a personal decision.

It is unlikely that a cat will bother them. Usually an adult chicken pecks a cat once and the cat leaves chickens alone after that. Feral cats will kill a chicken, but rarely pet cats.

OTOH, it's unlikely that cats are all you have. Critters like coon and possum reutinely live in cities and suburbs, among others.

If you feel your run is secure, perhaps they should have that freedom.

You should be able to train them to go in the coop at dusk. Treats will help. They may need a little night light for a while to encourage them in, especially if it is small and dark; a small flashlight or whatever will do.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

It really does depend on how you constructed your run/pen. Hardware cloth or chicken wire? Is the wire attached with wood screws so it can't be pulled off or did you only use staples or nails? Did you add an anti-digging skirt around the run? If you have hardware cloth, everything is put together with wood screws and you added an anti-digging skirt to the perimeter, then they should be safe. If you didn't do all those things, then they need to be locked in at night, for their own safety.

The other thing you didn't mention is the climate where you live. If you live in an area that gets really harsh weather, they would be warmer sleeping in the coop, plus you wouldn't have to worry about wind chill. This is mainly an issue if they aren't reliably going to roost in the coop.

Do your chickens not like roosting in their coop? Are they trying to roost in the run? Or do you try to put them in earlier than they like to go to roost? You could let them go in themselves, so you don't have to chase them. If it's late enough that they are already sleeping in the run, you should be able to just pick them up, not have to chase them. That's why I was wondering if you are trying to lock them up before their normal roosting time.

If you want to lock them up earlier than the normal roosting time, try luring them into the coop with a snack. That's usually the easiest way. They'll get in the habit of going into the coop whenever they see you with the snack container. Your house/pet sitter should be able to do this, too.

 

[darkmatter]

I trusted a relative once to lock up my chickens while I was gone for 8 days-------------I lost a chicken a day every day I was gone. When I got back and started locking them up again, the raccoon was so used to his nightly dinner, he ripped thru a ventilation screen under the eaves that was only 3 1/2 inches tall by 16 inchs wide and pulled a full grown chicken through that opening. Left quite a bloody mess down the side of the Coop. (I've since replaced the ventilation screens with perforated metal sheets.)

I've also had the Raccoons learn to open the nest box doors:

 

[suburban]

Ok where to start?

I live in Perth Western Australia so it will be HOT.

I'm fairly certain there are no racoons here but we have seen a fox once across the road and there are probably feral cats.

The area I am thinking I could leave them in has a roof and paving on one side and wooden logs around the other sides to stop any diggers. and of course includes the coop.

I'm thinking Woodlandwoman has made some good points about the chasing around at night. I put them "to bed" before my kids go to bed so the kids can help. That is usually around 6pm so plenty of light still and often qhite warm. Yesterday they had their first free range walk around our garden in the afternoon and when I went into the run they followed me and went straigh into the coop on their own. That's never happened before.

My neighbour is going to let them out in the mornings, so I could ask my sister to come by later, put some thing yummy in the coop and hopefully they will put themselves to bed.
OR
Leave them locked in for 5 days. I think it will be too hot. Wont they hate that and get all stinky?

Thanks for all the ideas with this (I want to take them with us!)

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
What about Dingo’s? Probably just as bad as coyotes are here. Tasmania Tigers?

 

[HEChicken]

Quote:
What about Dingo’s? Probably just as bad as coyotes are here. Tasmania Tigers?

No, those animals won't be a problem in Perth.

To the OP, I have found that mine will put themselves to bed when they are ready and then all I need to do is shut the coop door. Chasing them around must get really old. Why not just wait a little longer until they've gone in by themselves, and save yourself the hassle?

 

[suburban]

No dingos or tigers here (that made me laugh just a little bit)

I was putting them to bed at that time because my 7year old son wanted that to be his job so he did it before bath time...
Tonight I waited and they went in by themselves at about 7pm. Yay!