Do you need to close the pop door at night?

[Mixchicks]

If the run around the coop is closed off so that no predators can get in and is just as safe as the coop then do you need to close the pop door at night? Our 8 week old chicks put them selves to bed at dark every night. We aren’t super consistent with when we open the door in the morning and we are wondering if we can’t just leave it open so they can go out when they get up. I’m guessing this might be climate dependent. Right now it’s beginning summer in Arkansas so closing the door for warmth is not a factor.

 

[Homesteadermomma6382]

When I had a closed in coop I left the slide door open. That way if we got out there late they weren't stuck in the little coop all morning. Everything was entirely closed in. That being said I now have a fort knox build, which is very big, inside my barn with a runner that goes out to an outdoor enclosed pen. I use this for my tween girls. Too big for a brooder but not big enough for the big pen. I close both ends of the runner at night. I live in the woods and I have predators of all kinds. Nothing ever got into my little coop but ive learned that safe is better than sorry.

 

[mowin]

At first I closed up the coop because I was nervous I missed something. Now the only time I close the pop door is when it's going to be bitter cold and windy.

 

[333113]

If the run around the coop is closed off so that no predators can get in and is just as safe as the coop then do you need to close the pop door at night? Our 8 week old chicks put them selves to bed at dark every night. We aren’t super consistent with when we open the door in the morning and we are wondering if we can’t just leave it open so they can go out when they get up. I’m guessing this might be climate dependent. Right now it’s beginning summer in Arkansas so closing the door for warmth is not a factor.

You only have to close the pop door if you want to keep your chickens safe.

 

[pozees2]

I close up every night. I think my runs are secure, but I'd rather not find out the hard way that I was mistaken.

 

[mowin]

You only have to close the pop door if you want to keep your chickens safe.

Sorry, not true. My run is fort Knox. Only thing getting in there is a bear. Even if coop was locked, if a bear really wanted in, a coop is no match without a hot wire.

As stated, my pop door is open unless the frigid temps and wind require it. I've got foxes, yotes and coons that visit regularly. None have gotten a free chicken dinner.

Every bit of my run is covered in HC. I can guarantee you, nothing larger than a baby mouse is getting through, but a bear.

 

[Galeann]

Seems to me it depends on how safe your set up is built and other factors. The 20 x 30 run has chicken wire fencing over the top, sides surrounded by hardware cloth. I have 2 LGD that I can depend on at night and a rooster that is vigilant for his flock during the day. Pop door stays open. The flock seem to enjoy coming and going when they please. There are coyotes in our area and stray dogs. So far, so good.

 

[littledog]

I never close the pop door, they can go in and out of their coop at will.

Our current run is a 12' by 7' chainlink dog kennel with hardware cloth all around the lower part, extending outwards over the ground, with cinder blocks on top. Above the hardware cloth is chicken wire attached, that extends over the ceiling, with roofing panels over the ceiling wire. There are also roofing pieces that surround the whole thing and go straight down into the ground about 18". No predators have gotten in, we have raccoons, coyotes, weasels hawks and random dogs and cats.

One time we noticed that something, probably a raccoon, had pulled a section of the outer chicken wire apart, but then it ran into the chainlink and couldn't get through.

We're working on building a bigger yard attached to this one, about 16' by 36'. It's about half done and has chicken wire around the sides, with a layer of hardware cloth going up 2.5 feet and extending outwards over the ground 1.5 feet. Above the hardware cloth will be welded wire attached to the outside of the chicken wire up to the top boards, and on the inside attached to the lower boards will be aluminum panels dug into the ground about 1 ft. The ceiling will be chicken wire attached to a PVC frame. The gates are already attached, really secure "dutch door" style of wood frame covered with hardware cloth, tight-fitting.

When this gets done, we're going to make a pop door that leads into the big yard from their current yard. That pop door we will be closing at night, because the walls of the big yard will be secure, but the roof will be just chicken wire that a creative raccoon could get through, if it doesn't mind falling 6 feet.

 

[Galeann]

I never close the pop door, they can go in and out of their coop at will.

Our current run is a 12' by 7' chainlink dog kennel with hardware cloth all around the lower part, extending outwards over the ground, with cinder blocks on top. Above the hardware cloth is chicken wire attached, that extends over the ceiling, with roofing panels over the ceiling wire. There are also roofing pieces that surround the whole thing and go straight down into the ground about 18". No predators have gotten in, we have raccoons, coyotes, weasels hawks and random dogs and cats.

One time we noticed that something, probably a raccoon, had pulled a section of the outer chicken wire apart, but then it ran into the chainlink and couldn't get through.

We're working on building a bigger yard attached to this one, about 16' by 36'. It's about half done and has chicken wire around the sides, with a layer of hardware cloth going up 2.5 feet and extending outwards over the ground 1.5 feet. Above the hardware cloth will be welded wire attached to the outside of the chicken wire up to the top boards, and on the inside attached to the lower boards will be aluminum panels dug into the ground about 1 ft. The ceiling will be chicken wire attached to a PVC frame. The gates are already attached, really secure "dutch door" style of wood frame covered with hardware cloth, tight-fitting.

When this gets done, we're going to make a pop door that leads into the big yard from their current yard. That pop door we will be closing at night, because the walls of the big yard will be secure, but the roof will be just chicken wire that a creative raccoon could get through, if it doesn't mind falling 6 feet.

That sounds like a great set up.

 

[littledog]

Thanks, we hope most predators will give up. I guess we will see, when it's finally done!