keep pop door open......

[krcote]

Quote:
x2

 

[StephanieD]

My husband thinks I am over-protective but I lock up the girls in the coop every night. We have not 100% secured the run that attaches to the coop so it makes me feel better.

 

[7L Farm]

Quote:
X 2

 

[John-DownEastNC]

Quote:
Not quite fair for me to comment 'cause my coop is not yet finished (...as though it will EVER be...) and my 10 chicks are in their last "brooder box", but I'm COMPLETELY with Pat on this issue!

I know for a fact that I have bobcats, coyotes, foxes and raccoons using my property; not to mention the hawks I see every day... and I know there are other critters out there (probably plenty in my neighborhood...) that won't pass up a chicken dinner, given half a chance!! I'll be closing them in every night and won't be able to let them free-range, but I'm planning a tractor to let them (maybe only a few at a time...) help out in the garden, too!

Clearly, I'm in the sticks here, and I'm reading all of the security ideas posted here and using as many of them as I can!!

Good Luck!!

 

[Newbie in Screamer Al]

X 3 here. I feel safe witht he construction. But as patenchicks said, it may not last. I hope I am right.
Quote:
x2

 

[Green_Eggs_and_Ham]

I definately close mine. Why wouldn't I. I can't sleep thinking my girls may have predators lurking the run.

Get a automatic door, if the whole "getting up in the morning" thing is the issue.

That's what we did, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Highly recommend.

E/

 

[stormylady]

I was leaving mine open 24/7 until a raccoon attack a couple of weeks ago now there closed after they go to bed everynight without fail.

 

[caspernc]

I have 14 gauge 1/2"x1/2"x 4' buried around coop and run. The whole run and coop started out as a 12'x24' freestanding shed. The whole thing and ground are wrapped with the 14 gauge welded wire. Then we built the coop inside that. The feed room has a 6" concrete floor. To test the security we put a whole raw chicken in the run. Lots of tracks but the chicken stayed in there for a week until I couldn't stand the smell LOL! I'm going to TRY to post pics soon. I'm more worried about when they start to lay. I want to make sure they lay in the nest boxes.

 

[Green_Eggs_and_Ham]

Quote:
Add-A-Motor Chicken Coop Door Opener

We already had a door, so DH built a frame and had it working in a couple hours. Never had an issue since. Been about 11 months now.

I'm hoping ot go solar on it this spring. Looking at a kit on Discount Automation . Haven't heard any comments about it yet though.

Happy Spring!

E/

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

I leave mine open. My run is totally secure. We call it Fort Knox. Welded wire covers the run. Above that are corrugated panels to give them shade and rain protection. Three sides of their run are solid fence panels. Welded wire is burried a foot down and out on all sides and then covered with bricks. (The 4th side of the run is our garage.) The gate is double latched and requires two thumbs to open.

If I'm worried about them staying warm, I'll close them up at night. But in general, they get up and go to bed on their own terms.

But I check the whole run every day for signs of forced entry.