Locking hens in overnight

[calgib]

Hi, first time posting here. We have just recently got three hens for our back yard. They are kept within a big run that is fully enclosed and no predators can get into. Their house is enclosed within this run. During the day they pop in and out of their house at will. Every night when I go to lock them up they are already tucked up inside the house.
I am wondering whether I need to actually bother locking them in at night, they are safe, and by the time I get our kids up and sorted, the girls are itching to be let out. If I just left their door open would they be disturbed too much, or would it suit them better to just wander out in the morning themselves when they wish?

 

[Chicks and Hens]

Do you have a fence surrounding the yard

 

[calgib]

Yes we do, the only problems we have in our area are cats and gulls but their run is fully enclosed and roofed with chicken wire

 

[happyhens1972]

If you are absolutely sure that predators could not get in to your run then no, there is no need to lock them in. The shut-in is to prevent them being 'got at' at night when they are totally vulnerable. If your pen is inpenetrable, they will be fine BUT in order to be inpenetrable, the pen fence should be dug down underground to prevent something digging in, roofed to prevent something climbing over, made of seriously strong wire to prevent something chewing through and have mesh of sufficiently small gauge to prevent rats/weasels/stoats etc getting in through the holes....chicken wire will not necessarily stop them.

 

[buttercup95]

I would say go for it. With the way it sounds your chickens should be fine so long as you remember to keep checking the fencing I can't imagine any reason they'd need to be locked up. Especially if there's any chance you could forget them one morning. (I'm not implying you're irresponsible but I have kids too and I know how distracting they are lol) Plus what better way to get up in the morning than to look outside your window and see lovely chickens out clucking around in their enclosure.

 

[calgib]

Buttercup95, yeah my youngest is 2 years old but we are stilp having sleeping issues with him. Our wake up time is anywhere from 5am to 8am, and I just feel if the girls could let themselves out then they could form their own routine.

 

[buttercup95]

Well then I believe you are good to go. Just make sure you are aware of any holes in the fence but I wouldn't lock them up.

 

[donrae]

The only problem I see here is that you used chicken wire. Chicken wire will keep chickens in, it will NOT keep a predator out. I don't know of any area that doesn't have raccoons........where do you live? Even pretty urban areas have raccoons, rats, skunks, things like that that all love chicken dinner. You might check with the folks that hang out in the Coop Design section, they have good ideas for predator-proofing.

That said, if your run is predator proof and/or you're comfortable with the level of risk, there is no reason for them to be locked in a coop at night. Personally, I don't have a door between my coop and run, just an opening so the birds can come and go at will.

 

[Mrs. K]

That is how I do it. I only lock them in the house shutting the drop down door if it is going to be colder than than 20 degrees BELOW zero.

I do have heavy duty chain link fence, lined with chicken wire, but over the top it is just chicken wire, and I pretty much have the meanest predators around. The last time, before I went over the top, I did have a mink or weasel get in and losses were horrible. My sons built me fort knox after that. But the chicken wire over the top, the 'roof' so to speak of the run has been enough.

Mrs K

 

[whittychick]

Hi, first time posting here. We have just recently got three hens for our back yard. They are kept within a big run that is fully enclosed and no predators can get into. Their house is enclosed within this run. During the day they pop in and out of their house at will. Every night when I go to lock them up they are already tucked up inside the house.
I am wondering whether I need to actually bother locking them in at night, they are safe, and by the time I get our kids up and sorted, the girls are itching to be let out. If I just left their door open would they be disturbed too much, or would it suit them better to just wander out in the morning themselves when they wish?