Lowest Nighttime Temperature to Leave Coop Door Open

[pam0630]

I'm curious, at what nighttime temperature do you close your coop door at night? I have a small coop with an attached run (predator proof). I've been closing the coop door if the nighttime low is below 40 degrees but I feel bad that my girls are stuck inside until I can get out there in the morning to open the door for them. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I close my coop door that goes directly into my run. The run is completely tarped in and they do have some ventilation that comes in. I usually check on the chickens at 630pm and if they are all in the coop. I shut the door and open to the run in the morning. what is to cold to leave that coop door open to the run? The run has a deep liter method. I just don't want their food or water to freeze. The water is heated, but it will freeze with that breeze coming in??

 

[aart]

The water is heated, but it will freeze with that breeze coming in??

It shouldn't, if the heater is any good.

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[Mrs. K]

I have a pop up door to my run. If it is getting to -20 at night, I will close it or a blizzard with snow blowing in. Otherwise I don't.

 

[MichaelDJ]

I have no coop door but it only gets in the mid 20s here with occasional teens. I experimented with automatic doors and found them to be unreliable.
What I did do is buy a roll of that hanging plastic you see on walk in freezers. Using a utility knife I cut to the length I needed and then cut the hang strips to about 1" wide. It took a week or two for the ladies to get used to it. Now they come and go as if the plastic is not even there. no drafts, plenty of ventilation.
I can't remember the cost but it was fairly cheap. If you do this wait till summer as the plastic is warm and much more flexible and put it up when they are all in the coop at night.