Do you lock your chicks in coop at night or leave in the run

[citygirl]

I only close the pop doors on our 3 coops at night in the winter. Our runs are very secure and I have 2 dogs that patrol relentlessly.

We have never lost a chicken to predators other than my brother-in-law's dog which is part wolf. BIL opened the coop door to look at the new chickens and the dog bum rushed him. 30 seconds later 3 less hens.

Only you know the conditions in your part of the country. Good luck.

 

[mrsgibber]

I ALWAYS, ALWAYS lock them up for the night. It is too risky to leave them exposed to predators overnight. I think both the chickens and I sleep better knowing they are locked up.

 

[silentrunning]

I vote for a lock up. I have lost ducks and chickens by letting them loose in their runs during the dark hours.

Doug

 

[Grampa with chickens]

I too, lock em up at night. ( when I not too lazy). Since I built the new runs and coops, I've had no problem. They go into the coop at night anyway so all I have to do is close the door at dusk.

They will get enough light during the spring/summer/fall months for good egg production. Winter time they need the break anyways.

 

[mygor]

I bought an electric fence charger to protect the garden. Now I use it for the birds also. I haven't lost 1 chicken to a predator since!

 

[desertgirl]

Quote:
It just occured to me after reading this post that I need to put a smoke detector in my coop...

 

[Chick_a_dee]

Ours are locked in at night, they go in at dusk usually by themselves and we lock up behind them, and are let out anywhere between 7am and 10am. You can tell just about everyone has finished laying when you get a chicken standing at the window pecking the glass going "let me out let me out"

Edited to say, we have a fire extinguisher in the coop, 3 in the house, and 3 in the barn (one for each level...we have 2 crawlspaces in the house, and the two levels so one per level and the barn has two on the top floor (hay loft) and one on the bottom floor)), plus a smoke alarm in the coop..and obviously in the house and barn too.