Leave the coop door open at night???

[guineahen14]

Always shut all doors and lock your chickens up safely at night, sooner or later a predator will find your coop and if its open your chickens won't have a chance.

 

[teach1rusl]

As you've read, your decision has to be somewhat based on how willing you are to risk predators being able to breach your covered run. Something else you might consider is an auto door in your coop (if you have power available). Using a drapery motor and a digital timer, you can make your own auto door for about $120. I got spoiled by having one in my big coop - not feeling obligated to rush out first thing in the morning to let the girls out. My bantam coop doesn't have one (but soon will), and I've forgotten what a pain that is (like you, I feel guilty that they're cooped up inside until I get out there). The nightly head count/tucking in doesn't bother me, but I'd sure like to be able to sleep in just a little without feeling guilty...lol.

 

[Amy-in-Denver]

I know this thread is old but...I was also thinking about leaving my coop door open at night. As i want to go camping. I have a 8x8 chicken wire covered run around the coop. And it's chicken wire because I have a German Shepherd that's just under 100lbs who lives in my yard in direct contact with the run/ coop. And he protects it 24/7. He's kept plenty of foxes and skunks out of the yard at night, all of which stopped by to eat my chickens. I have been awoken to it and seen them.

My dog has a strong prey drive and wants to kill any animal that comes near him. Sept my chickens, and other pets as its his job to protect mommas babies. He's even fine to free range in the yard with the chickens, while I am there.

What do you think? I don't believe any animal will bypass him. And I have metal roof on the run if they try to go high. And I have heavy wire under ground attached to the run. So there's no getting under it.

So far I have closed the coop door every night. But I have not seen anyone with a huge protection animal on this thread like I have.

 

[Amy-in-Denver]

Sorry edited because somehow it double posted my comment and I deleted one.I

 

[JumpingMouse]

I would ask a neighbor to just drop by and open it around 9 am and close it as dusk. Its always better to be safe than sorry. I lost my fav chicken to a dog that lived in harmony with her for 3.5 years, everything seemed fine buuuuuutttt a dog is still a dog and a chicken is a squacking fluttering chew toy. It was heartbreaking to come home to see that. Not judging your dog but it has happened before there are always exceptions to the rule. Again my advice is to just have a neighbor drop by. One fox can kill a lot of chickens in just a few minutes, your dog might get there but there is no tellin what could happen. Or worse come home and not be able to tell if it was a fox that got em or maybe the dog. Again just sayin not judging your dog just my personal experiences.

 

[Amy-in-Denver]

Yeah I am going to ask a neighbor to watch them as she has to feed my dog anyway. But it cant be opened that late. She leaves for work before the sun rises. So she would have to open it in the dark anyway.

Also no dogs can get in my yard past my dog. Hes dog aggressive. So I am not worried about dogs, or foxes since he would kill them.

 

[mythreechicks]

Interesting post. Being new to raising chickens, my husband & I were just discussing this issue tonight. We were thinking that it would be OK & allow us to go on overnight camping trips but after reading this post.... not so sure anymore!!

It depends on how secure your run is. Ours is 1/2 hardwire cloth on every side top and buried two feet out on the ground.

 

[sweetchicksatl]

My girls are 18 weeks old. I shut the door when I first put them in there in mid May @ 12 weeks. But as school got out I got tired off getting up everyday to let them out. So I just make sure the run door is locked but leave the coop open. They go in the coop in the evening and don't come out till morning. I have 1/4" hardwire cloth around the pen including the floor (which is buried under dirt and shavings). I live in town but we do have fox, coyote & hawks among other varmits.

 

[lazy gardener]

might be a good idea to start a new thread. This one is 5 years old.

 

[feather13]

For all the reasons above, yes, do lock them up! We have lost so many chickens to predators (they are just doing what is instinctual for them and chickens are easy prey) that I absolutely lock them up every night. It's a pain, but necessary. I have two coops inside a huge, covered dog run that is secure and covered in hardware cloth. When I travel, I just leave them in the run since nothing (it seems!) can get to them and they have plenty of food, water, and room. Good luck!