Leave the coop door open at night???

[George Michael]

Close the door. I had one hen pullet being killed and brought away by a mongrel cat. I don't have a run used to let them free range all day but after three weeks this happened so I always leave them closed in their coop and let them free range only when I am around and have them in sight the important thing is that they are still alive.

 

[Abigayle]

I have eight 7 week old chicks that are outside in a coop and have been weaned from the heat lamp. I have a nightlight that's on at night and their coop is open to a chainlink and chicken wire run that is completely covered. I'm struggling with leaving the door open at night or keeping it closed. So far I go out every night before it gets dark and close it and then open once I get up and around in the morning. They come running out first thing and I'm sure they've been up and around for a good hour or two already. Do you think it would be okay to leave the door from the coop to the run open all night? We are out in the country and I'm nervous that the small amount of light might attract critters.....

Thanks!!!

 

[Abigayle]

Jaime, While it is extra work, I suggest that you keep doing what you are doing. Animals can dig under your pen. A snake may get in. Raccoons will hang around, trying to find a flaw in your plan and your chickens will not feel secure. I know of folks who stopped using their automatic chicken doors for some of these reasons. Why take a chance? Enjoy their morning exit and be glad they survived the night. If the weather gets bad, it might blow into your coop, if the door is open all night. Just some food for thought. Abigayle

 

[Jonidoodle]

We are getting ready to put the hardware cloth on our new chicken coop and run. It will be totally enclosed. I was hoping we could leave the small coop door open in the summer. We live in south central VA and the summers are really hot and humid. Now I’m not sure I will. Seems the critters will try and get in no matter what.

 

[Mamatomany123]

We are getting ready to put the hardware cloth on our new chicken coop and run. It will be totally enclosed. I was hoping we could leave the small coop door open in the summer. We live in south central VA and the summers are really hot and humid. Now I’m not sure I will. Seems the critters will try and get in no matter what.

I think this will depend on what predators you have and how predator proof the run really is. We dont have many predators outside of stray dogs, cats, and probably some mice but my run is completely covered in hardware cloth and I also have an apron on the outside. We leave our door open and so far havent had any losses. Haven't had anything break in either. Or try that I can see.

 

[M Brennen]

OK soooo glad I asked!!! I do worry about them as soon as I get up...my husband can't stand it! I will for sure be taking the time to lock them up each night!!!! THANK YOU!

Yes definitely lock them in at night. We have a pretty sure run, but I know I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I didn’t lock them in.

 

[Jonidoodle]

I think this will depend on what predators you have and how predator proof the run really is. We dont have many predators outside of stray dogs, cats, and probably some mice but my run is completely covered in hardware cloth and I also have an apron on the outside. We leave our door open and so far havent had any losses. Haven't had anything break in either. Or try that I can see.

We have fox, raccoons,

 

[TheMother]

Lol and

We went a year without a problem....now we are on the second one and have lost three hens. One was broody.

So, lock your doors. They will be fine and you will get up and around earlier and earlier. I cannot sleep now if I have not closed the pop door! And I have a trap out right now and spent the entire day going over and renforcing the coops and runs. Will finish tomorrow but in the meantime you should see how I locked up tonight. Extra stuff in front of the pop doors and people doors.

I am so bad that I went out and put mothballs all around the runs...where the chickens cannot get to them and then I came back in and got red hot pepper powder and sprinkled it around the runs. I hope it breathes it!!!! And that it burns and then it can't breathe. And then stumpbles into the trap and it closes and I find it in the morning!

There. Lock your doors just to be safe and so you won't have to do this!

My brother takes the cake on predator proofing and discipline of whichever poor creature dared touch his chickens, but I think you now might be taking the cake.

 

[DouglasB]

My birds sleep on top of their coop instead of inside, but it is inside a large run covered with hardware cloth for the small critters and hog fence panels for the larger critters. Covered all sides and roof, 2/3 of roof covered with metal roofing, the other third with hardware cloth and hog fence. There is an apron of welded wire all around the outside to stop diggers, and im still nervous. The coop is built like fort knox with an automatic door that they wont sleep in. If and only if, you are 100% sure your run is predator proof, and your coop is inside, protected by it, you can be realativey safe leaving the coop open in case they decide to actually use the coop. And you will still worry.

 

[Jonidoodle]

I think this will depend on what predators you have and how predator proof the run really is. We dont have many predators outside of stray dogs, cats, and probably some mice but my run is completely covered in hardware cloth and I also have an apron on the outside. We leave our door open and so far havent had any losses. Haven't had anything break in either. Or try that I can see.

We just finished enclosing the whole run with hardware cloth.used staples plus washers and screws. I will be shocked if anything gets in. We do have fox coons though.