Door closed my chickens in coop on 100deg day

[Rob Tof]

A few days ago I almost had a tragedy.
Every morning I open the coop door to let out my girls. I knew it was going to be close to 100 degs. So I checked the water and food I also put out a second water faunt. Well mid morning we had some wind and rain. The wind closed the coop door locking the girls inside at 100deg. Thank god my neighbor heard the girls cry for help. She called me asking if the door should be closed and the birds inside?I said it like leaving your kids in the car on a hot day no please let them out. She said as soon as they were let out they sat at the water faints for a while drinking. The reason I’m posting this is I could have prevented this with a simple latch to stop the door from closing. When building a coop please remember to think about the what if’s .

 

[SueT]

I've also had the wind loosen my latch and close the coop door. So in addition to the latch to hold door open, I fasten a little bungee from the door to an eyebolt as a backup.

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm so glad your neighbor recognized the problem and took the time to call you. She prevented certain death.

My advice: Always have a back up system. This includes having doors VERY secure when either open or closed. As for water, I recommend having a back up system there also. Never depend on a single water source. What would be the outcome if that water bowl got tipped over, or if that water fount developed a leak. If there was a second container, disaster could be avoided. I also like to keep extra water in the coop. This way, if the birds do get inadvertently shut in, at least they will have water.

During hot days, I have pop door, clean out door, and an other door open just for increased ventilation and in/out options for my multi age flock.

 

[JMotuzick]

Our grow out pen has learned how to close the door on them selfs! Just started happening, I left a chunk of fire wood in the doorway the last few days. I’ll devise a better latch after our long weekend....

 

[Howard E]

This may come as a shock, but on the Victory house, I used red metal siding (white roof) but also installed a layer of 1/2" foil faced polyiso insulation board and 3/8" plywood liner to protect it. On a hot sunny day when it is pushing 100 outside, is actually cooler inside than out. That is where the birds go to escape the heat.

To make this work, very important to leave an air gap between the siding and insulation.

In winter, hope is this will reverse, with radiant heat generated by the birds being reflected back and retained within the house, warming it up and drying it out. Heat source then will be the birds, and solar gain from south facing wall (not insulated) and sunshine coming through open windows.