Giving chickens 24/7 access to a run?

[domromer]

Last year I built a duck house but now we are getting chickens to live in it. It's pretty much the same as a chicken house except I'll need to add a perch and the ducks food and water was kept in a super secure outside run so they wouldn't mess there house up as they are very messy drinkers. So the ducks could leave there house antyime they wanted and go have a drink. I was wondering if I could have the same set up for the chickens or will I need install a door? The perch would be above the door level but I don't know if chickens would be too affected by the cold. Where as the ducks were never bothered by the cold. I live in flagstaff AZ my coldest month the high would be 45f and lows around 13f. What do you guys think?

 

[joedie]

I like to lock mine in the coop at night just because it's a lot harder for a predator to get into the coop than the enclosed run. JMO

 

[Scott]

My chickens have 24/7 access to their pen... works well for me. As long as the pen is secure and predator proof and with your weather, I see no reason why you couldn't let your chickens have full-time access to their pen.

 

[ChooksChick]

I agree, it's fine if you have the ability to keep it warm in the colder temps, and so long as you're confident you don't have any weak spots for predators to have a chicken dinner.

This past month has brought raccoon deaths to every chicken keeper in my neighborhood but me- and I have my chickens in Fort Knox to prevent it- I'm not willing to take the chance of one less solid wall or door between my birds and the gnashing sharp teeth of doom.

 

[Nana2KJS]

I put a pet hole door in our coop so the chickens could come and go, just because I work nights and don't always get up to let them out. If it gets really cold this winter (SE Kansas) I can close it with the included sliding door.

Got the idea from another BYCer:

Cut the plastic hanging door into 3 strips. The first few days we tacked up the center strip while they got used to the whole thing, then let it down. They've been happily in and out ever since.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

I work nights too, so I would have to lock up my gang at 3pm, so they have 24/7 access to their run...1 1/2 years and counting without any problems....

 

[Sillystunt]

mine have 24/7 access to their run. I have noproblems and can sleep in late...LOL

I have had no problems with predators except MICE! darn mice~

 

[Violet22]

I kept my chickens in a run with free access in and out of their house and never had a problem. They lived happily for 9 years here with no problems from the resident foxes, raccoons and other varmints living here. I have enlarged it now, and my ducks will be moving in hopefully in the next couple of days.
Just make sure to check it daily for signs of predators trying to get in, and fix anything if it looks like it might be vulnerable. They couldn't dig under at my place in a night, but if they started and I didn't catch it for a couple of days, eventually they could have made it in.

 

[Anny]

Personally I like to close the door to the coop every night. The chickens do into the coop no matter what at night. And I feel safer knowing that if some thing did get into the run. It would at least not be able to just stick it head right into an open door of the coop and eat the chickens.

 

[domromer]

Thanks for all the responces. My ducks lived there safely so I'm confident the run is secure. I'll just need to put that plastic pet door stuff over thier door to help stop the winter drafts.