enclosed run w/ roof...how important is closing up the coop at night?

[phishinchicken]

as far as the run door goes.

if we went out of town or just skipped a night.

 

[Danigirl3]

My thoughts are, really important. I think you could have a coop built like Ft. Knox but if the door is open it's like an invitation.

 

[Renee]

I don't understand your question.

If the run is entirely enclosed with strong hardware cloth and a roof you don't need to close the chickens up in the coop at night. But you should not leave the run door open or the chickens will get out.

 

[patandchickens]

How secure you THINK your run is, is often not the same as how secure PREDATORS find it to be.

Browse the "Predators and Pests" section of BYC for many, many threads on the theme of "I was sure nothing could possibly get in, but it did and et all my chickens".

It is a whole big lot safer to shut them in the coop at night (it is much easier to build a predatorproof coop than a predatorproof run).

Personal choice, though, and depends on things like how much you value your time vs how upset you'll be to find mauled chickens.

(Although, remember that once predators have eaten at the buffet, they can be much more determined to get in for seconds; it is easier to keep them from ever getting a taste in the first place)

Good luck,

Pat

 

[CityChook]

Only important if you want to *guarantee* that you'll have live chickens in the morning. It only takes once...

 

[Wifezilla]

Considering the post I read right before this one consisted of "what happened to my ducks?"....