Do your chickens have access to the run whenever they want?

[sgtmom52]

I lock my chickens in the coops at night, because even though I have a fairly secure run during the day ~ it is only covered with heavy duty aviary netting (not deer net) and this is what squeezed through the netting during the night. I have seen at least 3 (and trapped 2) inside the run so far.

 

[RollinWithTheStones]

Wow that's a big fella, I live in the city and have kept my rabbit out with nothing more than a chicken wire run (all sides were covered) and a dog house. Nothing really has bothered it except a wee baby rabbit that got caught trying to steal her food.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

I only close my pop doors during extremely bad weather. My runs are completely wrapped in 1/2" hardware cloth and have strands of electric wire around them. They come and go as they please.

 

[teach1rusl]

At the moment, my bantams do have 24/7 access, due to the heat (I've been leaving the pop door open). But their run is totally hardware cloth with a solid roof. My main coop also has a covered run, but it's 2x4 welded wire. Their pop door is on a timer. When it's been blazing hot, I've turned the timer off and left their door open, but typically the door is shut each evening. It all comes down to how comfortable you are with risks.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

sgtmom that is SOME predator! Wow! My chickens would die at the sight of him!

 

[spotstealer]

I secure my coop nightly after they go to roost. Just an added precaution. My run is protected all around, including from above so during the day I don't worry (I live on the edge of town but don't have 'yotes or fox around, my dogs as well as nieghbors keep them away.

 

[happyhens120]

My run is a part of my coop, so they have access whenever they want. I used poultry netting all around the run, and so far I've had no disturbances!

 

[RiddleMe]

I leave my pop door open 24/7. My run is made from dog kennel panels with hardware cloth on the lower 2 feet as well as a 2 foot apron and a wire "roof" over the entire run. The perimeter of my property is also fenced with 6' chain link and has hot wire running along the base and again about 1/2 way up. We have coyotes and birds of prey in the neighborhood, but so far no problems. But we don't have raccoons in my area, if we did, even with my precautions I'd probably still lock that pop door at night.

edited to make sense!

 

[ll]

lol RiddleMe @ your reason for edit


Our pullets have access 24/7 only because we have a fort knox run attached.
Continuous lengths of hardware cloth from the top to the end of the skirt underground, some pieces as long as 13ft. - with no openings between.
I will close the pop door during winter storms.
They let themselves out into the run every morning

 

[kpsullivan]

We shut and lock the coop door at night. I think the chickens like it that way. I get up every morning at dawn to open the door.