Got locked in the coop for 2 hours. Any suggestions?

[Farmer Kitty]

Change the syle of lock. I have one of those that twist. You put it one way and flip the other end over it and then twist the thing to lock it. When I go into the coop I make sure it's twisted into the lock position so the other part can't come over and thngs accidently lock me in. It would be hours most afternoons before anyone would be home to look for me and with Peanut sleeping she wouldn't worry either. I also try to carry the phone with me but, sometimes I forget it.

 

[orcasislandchickens]

I am wondering, if it might be easier to leave the door as it is and build a little escape hatch that can only be opened from inside. I am making "storm windows" for the run area of my coop right now. You place them in the frame and turn little blocks of wood from up and down to sideways to hold them in place snugly. It would be real easy to make a "doggie door- escape hatch" setup with a removable panel. (and don't tell your brother).

 

[Rufflemyfeathers]

I am glad you were ok and got out..I also got locked in mine other day too like others no cell phone..managed to squeeze through some chicken wire after I got some loose and first had to reach on outside of coop and unplug my electric fence so I didn't get shocked and good thing I lost lot of weight so I coulc squeeze through the hole then I had to fix it afterwards.

 

[hollyk]

Wow, glad to know we are not the only ones who have done this.

Friday my DH was building me a brooder box inside my coop. I am very grateful he is willing to enable me to keep up my addiction, but we were really stressed because he would not listen to what I needed in a brooder box. He kept thinking he had a better idea. Well, it was gettin kinda heated in the coop. He then told me to just leave him alone and he would fix the box. I said "glad to"

thinking that I would just re-build it my way when he went to work. We have goats and my job had been to hold the door shut so they could not come in. Well, if I left who was gonna keep the goats out? So, I locked the door on my way out. I promise, this was an accicident. I love my husband and when he is mad at me the last thing I want to do is make him madder. Well, you can imagine his reaction when he tried to leave and realized I had locked the door.

My 9 yr old was close by and rescued him. Of course, her giggles did not help his mood. There is a "chicken door" at the bottom of the human door that I could fit through in a pinch, although, this would not be a option for my hubby. I say, make an escape door or change the lock.

For those of you wondering- my brooder box is great, in a few moments of alone time we were back on the same page.

 

[redoak]

Got locked in the coop for 2 hours. Any suggestions?

Maybe install a TV and get a recliner.​

 

[Mahonri]

For as many times as I've read a thread like this, it almost needs to be stickied at the top of the Coop design forum with a PLEASE READ.

If you couldn't get out and had frozen to death, it would have been a news report rather than a "Any Suggestions?" question.

CHANGE THE LOCK! Always have a way out. I got locked in the coop as a kid and there was no way out. Thank the Lord is wasn't winter.

 

[jvls1942]

I got a few suggestions.
LEAVE YOUR BROTHER IN THE HOUSE !!!

the kind of lock you discribed is almost impossible to lock on it's own..

Rather than making an escape door, make a hand sized hole within reach of the lock with or without a cover over it so you can reach thru and unlock the door..

who said it is a good thing it was not winter?? ""it was 20 $%$^& degrees , dad !!""

 

[soonerdog]

Might ought to carry the cell phone with you when you go to gather eggs!

 

[chicken_angler]

Thanks guys.

I was talking to my friend, quailman10, and he suggested that I cut a hole over the latch and just have a piece of wood over it that I can turn so whenever I get locked in, I can just turn the oiece of wood and reach out to unlock it. My dad wants to try something else though, I dont know what it is. Lol

 

[sarabeth]

I have the same type of lock and got locked in once thankfully it didnt latch all the way and was able to get out with a little prying! I was really scared all husband could do was laugh

just to let u know he still hasn't fixed the latch. he also went to check eggs about 2 hours ago I might need to go check on him. thanks for reminding me lol