Multiple pop doors - confusing?

[tsperry88]

Having lost some chickens recently, I am going to build a really nice run and go to a more supervised free range strategy. If I add a 2nd pop door on my coop that enters into the run, and leave the existing poor door to exit into the yard, will that confuse the chickens when they get panicked and run back to the coop? Right now if a shadow passes overhead they dash for the existing pop door.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Chicken do hate changes to their environment, however, with time they should adjust well to your intended coop/run modifications. That being said it depends on the breed some are incredibly slow learners(in your scenario of concern).

 

[tsperry88]

Mine have learned ok, but I do have some that seem a few marbles short. They like going under the coop to feel safe and stay cool. I can give them access from the run or yard. If I give them access from the yard, they would run there first if they sense danger. The downside is that it would have to be blocked off from the run.

 

[vantain]

I have two pop doors, each leading into a different section of my attached run. Allows me to separate the birds as necessary, since I can partition everything off as needed, and still provide access to things.

Up till a few days ago, my young ones (now 11 weeks old) only used one particular door, since I had a partition wall up in my coop to separate one bad hen. Now that the partition wall is down, they use either door. I am still opening both doors since I was unsure of how they would adjust to the other door being accessible now. However, this morning, when I opened the one they are not accustomed to, they all ran out into the run from that one. So I guess they just don't care.

Still trying to decide if I will now just leave one shut until needed again for any reason. For now, it does allow the littles to get away more easily from one particular hen, since they can just dart into the coop on one side, and pop out on the other, well away from her. For sure, I will keep one closed for the winter.

I realize your issue is related more to free ranging access, but I think they will adapt as required. I just open the run door to let them out for supervised free ranging, and they all know to run back that way when something spooks them.

 

[Alaskan]

You might want to put a table type roof or somesuch over the free range pop door, so of they panic they have more hawk cover while they remember what to do.

 

[aart]

I'd let them range from the run door, and block off the other pop door.
Why did you not make the run around the existing pop door?

 

[tsperry88]

There are more trees to work around on the side with the existing pop door. Also, I designed automatic door controls that I can now make affordably. It's easier to automate the pop door than a man door. If I open it and have to leave, at least I know it will close at sunset.

 

[tsperry88]

I'm still debating on how to do the run. Fully enclosed would be 10 sq ft per bird. T posts 4' fence with several rows of electric fencing, topped with bird netting, I could give them a lot more space.