i have 5 RI reds and 2 NH reds, in a 6x8 coop with 5 nesting boxes, the enclosed yard is 10 x20, problem is i got 1 RI and 2 NH reds that don't get along with the rest, i am thinking of putting in a pop door on the floor of the coop and leaving it open at night so there is an escape route if it gets rough. they free range all day so when they argue its easy to escape, i am hoping over time this will go away. any help would be greatly appreciated!
Leaving your pop door open is an open invitation to raccoons and other night time predators - I wouldn't do it unless you have a roofed, Fort Knox secured run (which would be hard to do in a 10x20 run). Birds don't generally fight in the dark - they don't move much at all in the dark. So simply opening the pop door at first light is your best (safest) bet. Put in an auto door if you're not an early riser.
I leave my door open and they handle the weather fine but I started turning on the heat lamp when it is below freezing because I feel bad that they are cold even though they are so cute when they are huddled together. My coop is Very secure with hardware cloth going down 2.5 feet and across the bottom of the coop/run.
I leave mine open, so far it's been fine. However in Spring of 2011 I had a lot of problems with oppossums and raccoons. I destroyed several and after a few months of no problems I left it open a few nights with no problems. My girls seem much happier.
i think as long as your runs secure it be okay. Sometimes i leave mine open because its easier then getting up. I know it sounds lazy but as a army vet with a 2 yr old and in college sleep is rare, I'd love an auto coup door but then again when i think of building one there's always that little voice that says save bills are coming. Just make sure your run is safe and either way its up to you because your the one risking predators getting in.
I don't suggest anyone leave coop doors or pop doors opened. Last week coons got into my secure runs by prying up welded wire, and ripped a coop door off the hinges to get to my prized bantam Partridge Wyandotte flock. Killed all of them. The coon got stuck in the pen and I killed him. Another was caught in one of my traps. The next night more coons came back and got into another run and killed my Lav Orpingtons. Again they peeled back welded wire to get into the run. If they want something bad enough, they'll find a way in. I gave away 2 dozen Call ducks on Craigslist so they wouldn't be raccoon food.
