Does anyone leave their chickens out all night?

[Jillylam]

I have a neighbor that had chickens for a few years. He would leave their coop open to the attached run at night. He had such a problem with raccoons. They would reach in through the wire and grab the chickens and try to pull them through. He lost a lot this way. (I think after the first time I would have redesigned the run). He has trapped and relocated quite a few raccoons. He also started locking the girls up at night. I learned from his troubles and lock mine up every night even though my run is secure. If I'm late getting outside to open their door they let me know they're not pleased but at least I know they'll all be in there safe and sound.

 

[eichenluft]

I have a boarding kennel on my property, and my own dogs run loose, though they are not out all night long I let them out before bedtime and etc. I know there are Coyote in the area, fox and bobcat - but I've never seen them on my property, and so far, have not lost a chicken to a predator (except a couple stupid ones who jumped into dog runs). My chickens are free-range, wandering all over the place during the day, and going into their hen-house at night. Their house is an old milk house - cinderblock and they go into it via a high window. I don't think a coyote or fox could get in there. In better weather the chickens will roost in the tree at night - again, I don't think anything could get up there. So maybe I'm dumb for not shutting them in at night - but right now I let them do their own thing, the gate to their enclosure is left open - but I've never seen a chicken on the ground outside at night and so far so good about losing them to predators.

molly

 

[Freebie]

mine stay in a horse stall that was converterd to a coop (kinda) They are let out to free range (no pen) in the evening. I would let them out all day, but they won't come back to lay their eggs. At night they go back to the barn, but not necessarily the coop. So I have to gather them up and get them in the coop. I have on occassion just left them in the barn, but it worries me so. I have only lost one to a predator and it was inside the coop their first night out. It's head was gone and the body was inside the coop. We caught a coon in the live trap and have not lost another one yet.

 

[wynedot55]

ok heres what you can do to keep vermitts from trying to get chickens in their run.you can get tin.an an lay it along the fence of your henyard.be sure to bury the tin 2 or 3in in the ground.its alot of work.but might keep them safe in their yard.an it dont look to pretty.

 

[allen wranch]

I don't close mine up at night any more The runs are predator proof with chicken wire coverd in welded wire and have buried wire aprons all round the coop and run. Padlocks are on all the doors, nest boxes, and run gates. The only thing that can get in are snakes, so I don't let my babies stay out until they are about eight weeks old.

It made a big difference to not have to close up eleven doors every night and open them again in the morning. The only birds that like to sleep outside are in runs that are not adjacent to outside fence.

I keep my fingers crossed every night that some predator won't decide to rip a door off its hinges or find a vunarable spot, but after two years I am still lucky.

It can be done, but you have to make sure EVERYTHING is tight.

 

[Wes in Tx]

I am with Carla here and quit locking my birds in every night and even have one 40x20 run that isn't coverd. The only problems I have had is with dogs and those chicken killers are no longer in the area and we had a family of opposums for a while and they have all be relocated.

 

[AccidentalFarm]

Carla/Wes-

I suppose the chickens go inside of there own volition when the weather is disagreeable? I was told that young chickens are too stupid to get out of the rain. I like the thought of being able to allow them in/out as they choose, rather than the thought of a chicken round-up while freezing my own tail off or getting soaked to the bone. And we really don't have much winter to speak of here in South Texas. Well...with the exception of this past freak weekend....

 

[jmofaustin]

This is my setup, I have a shed that I converted to a coop/horse stall (for my mini horse) and 1/3 acre of fenced in land for them to free range. My rooster makes sure all his hens are in the coop before nightfall making my job soooo much easier. I never have to go and close up my chickens and have not lost any to predators yet, thanks to my trusty watch horse. If you have predator problems get a mini donkey or mini horse, they are very good at keeping other animals away.

 

[suburbanchick]

I plan to leave my 4 hens in the coop with the door open and access to their run. The reason for this is bc the coop is smaller than recommended... really there's just enough room for them to roost and lay. So I want them to be able to run around whenever they have the urge.

My run is made with 1/2 inch welded wire (including on top). The only way something could get in is if they dig. But there isn't much chance of that since I'm in the city and I have a 6 foot privacy fence that is very secure. There are houses all around and I've never seen or heard of any wild animals coming around our very small yard.

 

[Anny]

I would say don't leave them out just because you can spend hours and hours and lots and lots of money trying to make a safe yard that no out side critter can get into, and all it take it just one little critterto find a flaw in your fencing or climb or chew of just charge their way into your run, and kill all your chickens.

With the number of people on these forums I see everyday who are so sad because "_________ ate all their chicken!" I wouldn't risk it.