Is it ok leaving coop door open for a few days?

[73luke]

Hi guys,

I have recently inherited 3 Lohmann Browns. They came with a coop and small run which I have added to so now they have a covered run of around 12 square metres on paving slabs to prevent any unwanted predators digging their way in. My question is can I go away for a few days ( 4 or 5) and leave the coop hatch door open leaving them to put themselves to bed etc. or does someone need to close the coop hatch every evening?
I will leave them 2 filled large feeding stations and a 3 litre waterer and I can probably get someone to check for eggs every other day.

 

[lalaland]

The only reason to latch the coop is for predators, assuming the outdoor temps are not an issue.

You have to think of what predators might be in your area, and whether they could enter the coop or run through cracks, breaking in, weasling in....etc.

Good idea to have someone checking on them, because you would be surprised at how possible it is for them to upset the waterer and then be without water.

 

[farmboy22]

If you already have someone checking for eggs and going there anyways, I think it would be better for that than to leave your birds exposed.
I tried the same thing a year ago and lost 7 birds, so better safe than sorry.

 

[Chickens R Us]

I have left my pop door open for a couple of days. I had my sister check on them every day but she couldn't come over twice a day to let them in and out . I was worried sick the entire time, this year I am going to invest in an automatic door opener. Peace of mind is worth the cost.

 

[Mac14]

I go down to my chickens once a day. Opening and closing was a huge hassle. They are now a year old and I have not had any attacks...yet. I think seeing them at least once a day is needed, other than that, it's what works for you.

 

[carolinasculpture]

Hi! I leave the pop door open on our coop all the time. But they have a fenced, covered, electric fenced run. If you could set up an electric fence around the run/coop, I don't see why not. Good luck!

 

[Doug Hodges]

The post about the water is a good one. I now have two one gallon waterers in my pen. I filled one the day before yesterday morning and when I arrived that evening it was spilled and they attacked the waterer when I filled it up.

 

[gg706]

I normally close my door everynight. When I am out of town I have no choice but to leave the door open. I have decent fencing but if something wanted to get in I do feel it would be possible. It makes me nervous everytime and I worry while I am gone if my birds are ok. I have not had any losses but it will happen one day if I leave it as is. I plan to add an electric wire before we go out of town again, for my peace of mind and for heavy protection for my birds. I would hate to come home to a blood bath! I also do as you were suggesting and put out several pans of water and a couple food areas. So far that has worked fine for me.

 

[jdmekus]

I have had my chickens about 4 years now and have never closed my pop door. I do have a large run that is all fence and so far nothing has happened. Really depends on what kind of predators you might have around there.

 

[Chickens R Us]

I've been looking into electric fencing also. The only thing I really worry about is raccoons because they are smart and can find any weak spots in my fence.