I Can’t Get Their Rear Ends Out of the Run At Night!

[SilkieMitch]

Were it me I would open up that entire side. My coops run almost 50% vented. Since I have to go in there too.

Do you cover it in the winter? Or just not worry too much about it since our winters are so mild (compared to the North—this sissy Texan still freezes his butt off LOL)

 

[gpresdo]

It would be easy for a raccoon to pull/tug at those retainer screws and work the wire loose. Use staples.
Your roost coop looks awfully small. We are reminded that chickens may choose to sit on the roost .....side by side but, we are not to force them to that position.
Where/How do the window covers work when it is frigid?

 

[Lilokieescorter]

My Silkies wanted to huddle like they did in the brooder & after picking them up a few times & putting a light in they finally started going in to the roost!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Do you cover it in the winter? Or just not worry too much about it since our winters are so mild (compared to the North—this sissy Texan still freezes his butt off LOL)

Nope I don't cover up anything in winter. My north facing sides are usually solid for when an actual cold front comes in. These guys all come with down jackets so we never see the need. They really do load up on cracked corn before bed in winter for those calories.

 

[SilkieMitch]

It would be easy for a raccoon to pull/tug at those retainer screws and work the wire loose. Use staples.
Your roost coop looks awfully small. We are reminded that chickens may choose to sit on the roost .....side by side but, we are not to force them to that position.
Where/How do the window covers work when it is frigid?

The coop is 10.5 square feet for 5 bantam silkie chickens, which is the recommendation for bantams. . As Silkies, they almost never use the roost. Silkies can’t fly, and they prefer to sit on the ground, perch on rocks, etc. mine huddle together when they sleep or sleep against the wall. Don’t worry, they are no where close to touching when all on the floor in the coop. They can all spread out with more than a foot between them.

It is almost never cold where I live. When it does get cold in winter, I cover them with plastic. But dropping anywhere near freezing here is a rarity!

And yes, I’ve definitely been planning to staple down the mesh as soon as I get my air compressor working again! Need to get on that!

 

[SilkieMitch]

My dogs used to have to be walked over to the run to scare the chickens in at night lol. Only Livia went in though, smart chicken. The others were like, dudes, you weigh like 15 pounds lol.

Oh my gosh, that is hilarious! My dummy chickens are fearless. They’re not afraid of dogs, roaring lawnmowers, screaming kids, anything! They are adorable but dumb as rocks sometimes. I keep a close eye on em free ranging during the day because I don’t trust them to run away from the things they should!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Oh my gosh, that is hilarious! My dummy chickens are fearless. They’re not afraid of dogs, roaring lawnmowers, screaming kids, anything! They are adorable but dumb as rocks sometimes. I keep a close eye on em free ranging during the day because I don’t trust them to run away from the things they should!

Yep they sure do find some of the stupidest ways to die from my experience. I still cannot believe I have never run one over backing out as under my 4x4 seems a favorite spot to chill during the day. I have run one over with a lawnmower and she is still healing up but is back in GenPop after some home surgery.

 

[Chickenhappy8708]

Oh my gosh, that is hilarious! My dummy chickens are fearless. They’re not afraid of dogs, roaring lawnmowers, screaming kids, anything! They are adorable but dumb as rocks sometimes. I keep a close eye on em free ranging during the day because I don’t trust them to run away from the things they should!

Well, I can't say the same about lawn mowers, they are only scared of the tractor though lol.

 

[SilkieMitch]

I decided I would do a nice middle ground and build a nest box for the run, leaving the coop open, too, if they want that. They love the run, it’s probably a LOT cooler (I wouldn’t want to be sleeping inside a house if I didn’t have central air conditioning), and it’s covered on two sides by a shed and a house plus has a roof.
So I went out and slapped together what I am currently calling “the pauper’s box”. . I will fix them something more fancy when it’s not 108 degrees outside.

 

[NatJ]

I think that nestbox for the run is a good idea.

And if they want to sleep in the run--as long as it's secure from predators, I would let them. They just need to be safe and comfortable while sleeping. And I assume chickens are the best judges of what is comfortable to a chicken