How early do you let your chickens out?

[AntiqueB]

Thanks for such a detailed reply, @GC-Raptor . I wish I could have an electric fence, but I doubt it would be allowed in town. I'm also really glad I don't have bobcats, although it's cool they prey on the raccoons!

 

[NatJ]

I leave for work very early, and have been opening the pop door for the girls as I leave. These days, they're still snoozing, and don't even come out when their door opens; sunrise is about a half hour to 45 minutes away. The coop opens directly into my backyard (I'm in a suburban area, with 50'x100' lots). I know raccoons, foxes, possums, coyotes, and skunks also live in the area. My question is, are nighttime predators still skulking about just before dawn, or do you think my girls will be ok? What time do you open your coops/let your chickens out to free range?

Some people have automatic pop doors, that open at whatever time you set.
That could be a way to have them safely locked up until after sunrise, but let out long before you get home from work.

I know foxes can be around at any time of the day, because I've seen them in the early morning, middle of the day, and evening. (They may act differently in different places-- where I live, the foxes trot through a bunch of backyards on a daily path, ignoring any dog that ignores them, and going over 6 foot fences with no trouble at all.)

 

[rbregn]

I fixed my problem with an automatic door. Best investment I have made for my chickens

 

[kerbotx]

I invested in an automatic coop door a couple of years ago, and it has been such a wonderful thing! It opens at 6:30 am into their fully enclosed run; they get let out to free-range anytime after 9 am, to help ensure all the critters in the woods & creek nearby have gone back to bed. And although it's rare, I have occasionally seen a coyote or raccoon wandering at the edge of the woods in broad daylight. We just do the best we can!

 

[jsr5]

I was getting losses when I let them out really early I switched to 8am to 930 am for let out of the run time and stopped the losses. I put them up at sundown. My Big girls have a Fenced run so are able to get outside the coop whenever they want some have taken to sleeping under the coop even. But my Bantam flock is stuck inside I"m working on their run but until then they don't get out till I open the Run at the aforementioned time

 

[myluckychucks]

I leave for work very early, and have been opening the pop door for the girls as I leave. These days, they're still snoozing, and don't even come out when their door opens; sunrise is about a half hour to 45 minutes away. The coop opens directly into my backyard (I'm in a suburban area, with 50'x100' lots). I know raccoons, foxes, possums, coyotes, and skunks also live in the area. My question is, are nighttime predators still skulking about just before dawn, or do you think my girls will be ok? What time do you open your coops/let your chickens out to free range?

If you don't have electric wire protecting the run, and the run isn't completely enclosed with very strong wire fence ( not just chicken wire) you will eventually lose birds as predators discover the free offering. Many animals are still prowling at dawn and of course later too. My farmer husband said"just leave the pop door open, they look after themselves". WRONG. Screams in the night after only 1 night of doing that found a wounded hen outside the coop in the yard with weasel bite marks on her neck. Never again. They are securely locked up until daylight and closed well before dark.