I was a little late this morning

[WindingRoad]

feeding my girls. When I stepped out the back door the coop door was open and no chickens in the coop. They hop up on the drop down door and fly out. Not far. I was scared to death. They weren't right around the coop. I called to them and they squawked. They were up agains the house where the snow is almost gone. Peaking away at the ground. Not much there. I was so happy to see them. I can't believe they were all intact and ok. I know I shut their coop door as I run my fingers just outside of the nest boxes Telling them that I love them, See you in the morning, go to sleep now and be good girls. I found one egg my ISABown had laid. I was cold. 21degrees at 0830AM. So they went back in and I fed and watered them. Opened the door to the run. They are fine. Active bright eyed etc. The latch is one of those that thread through a hole and you adjust the bale to "lock". I don't think anything/anyone "unlocked" it but I must have not secured it properly. I'm not so sure my hens are safe FROM ME. That's the second time they've been out in the morning because of that door. Triple check from now on. I need to put a check box up somewhere and tick off the boxes.... Whew.

 

[cavemanrich]

I suggest you get a better system latch, and use a clip beaner.

 

[WindingRoad]

I suggest you get a better system latch, and use a clip beaner.
View attachment 1717688 View attachment 1717689

I've got a padlock. Thanks. My closure has a small bale that fits through the latch part and can only go one way to close it tightly. I must not have engaged the bale. It's secure as long as I engage it properly.