Lock your coop and run up

[res]

I've done both... Sometimes I lock them up at night, sometimes I leave the coop open 24/7. I am sure if I ever have a predator loss, I will quickly change my approach, but as of right now, I am pretty confident that my coop and run are predator proof, so I don't have to lock anyone up.

I am locking them in the coop right now because I have just introduced the new 6-wk old pullets to the coop and run, and I want them to learn to come in at night. And I also want them to have access to the heat lamp that I have in the coop for them. Our nights have been getting down to the 40's, and I don't want them to be chilled.

 

[fiddlebanshee]

I have two lines of defense:
1. about 1/3 of an acre fenced in by an electric fence with about 8000 volts on it.
2. a secure run (with roof) of 20x30 ft

And a coop inside the secure run. The people door to the coop is outside the secure run but inside the electric fence. I lock that door, and I lock the people door that goes into the run. The coop has a popdoor that I leave open 24/7 so they have round the clock access to the secure run where their food and water is that is fully enclosed with 1/2" hardware cloth, on all sides and the roof. There is a second popdoor to go from the secure run to the fenced area that I close at night.

So if a predator wanted to get to them, he'd have first to challenge the electric fence. (I walk the perimeter about once a week to look for diggers). then they would have to get the popdoor to the run open (impossible). They cannot dig under the run wall because there is hardware cloth buried. Or alternatively they would have to challenge the electric fence at the people door to the coop, and then figure out a way to get the lock open (also impossible).

This setup allows my chickens to get up bright and early, eat and drink and be outside when the sun gets up without me having to get out of bed. Then when I get up I open the popdoor to the larger fenced in area and they can roam there all day. At night they usually gravitate back to the run at about 7, if there are stragglers I lure them with some mealworms (they know the sound of the shaking of the can). and then I close the popdoor from the run to the larger fenced area. Then they can put themselves to bed whenever they feel like it.

 

[warmheart]

Literally, they're locked up each evening. The coop door(s) have been fitted with strong clip locks. They come out after sunrise when it's light out, and go to bed each evening at sunset, when they're locked safely up again.

During the day, they do free-range in the large yard. The yard however is fully fenced against stray dogs, and our own dog is often outdoors gallumping around the property with me. There's cover to scurry under if the roo alerts to a sky predator, but luckily the nearby Coopers Hawk pair seems too horrified by Agatha Cluckworth, aka Large Marge, our colossal Barred Rock to bother the chickens. (We have a tiny flock of just 5 hens and a mini-roo, and they forage together as a very cohesive group)

 

[JanetS]

Yes. We lock up our chickens every night. Close pop door (heavy plywood) and lock nesting boxes, run and coop doors
This is the lock we use on coop, run and nesting boxes.

.

 

[cknkids]

Liamthechicken, condolences on your loss

Imachickenmama, We leave the hen house open to the run. We built our coop and run on an existing concrete pad and enclosed it in 1/2" hardware cloth. So far so good. The girls spend much of there days free ranging in our yard. It nice to know if we'll be out late we can lock them in their run and not have too worry. Last summer, before the run was completed, we had to have a friend come shut the door when we went to the county fair.

 

[snakelife]

I always keep a nice gun by the door. I have a nice 20 that I will shoot up in the air to scare anything away. if that doesn't work I will set traps or actually use my gun. if its a rat or something I use a nice pellet gun that works well. I also have some nice snakes that hang around and eat mice. I don't mind the occasional pilfered egg for rat and mice control. the snakes don't bother the chickens and the chickens got a nice nip from a few of them and now don't mind them. I have found snakes in the coop before on rainy nights or cold nights. I don't mind them.

 

[blythspirit]

My girls are locked up for the night,,I can't even imagine leaving the door wide open to Mr.and Mrs Raccoon to come feast on my girls.

 

[critterwhisper]

I lock my girls up in their coop everynight.they are let out in the morning by my dh.when i leave for work its still dark for some reason i dont want to let them out that early. Sorry for your loss of your dear polly