OK to leave coop door open into predator-proofed run?

[LightningBug]

Hi there! I am still in the planning stages of chicken-keeping - want to make sure I know mostly what I'm doing before any peeps arrive!

My question is this: Will chickens reliably put themselves to bed around sunset, from their enclosed run, into the coop? I work afternoon into evening, so I won't be home on weekdays to shut them in. Will leaving the pop door open in cold/windy/rainy weather be bad for them (if roosts are on opposite side of coop?) Could I leave the pop door open all night long so they can let themselves out at the crack of dawn also?

If this is a bad idea, please let me know - I may not be able to keep chickens if this is harmful for them. Thanks for your help!

 

[lazy gardener]

If you are confident that the run is truly predator proof (skirted, and no openings greater than 1/2", door locks that a 2 year old child could not figure out how to open) then you could leave the pop door open. Eventually, they will figure out how to put themselves to bed at night, but there is a learning curve for them.

 

[Doc7]

Yes once they learn they sure will. Many people with predator proof runs don’t even have a coop door. Don’t see much point in not being able to not be at the coop at sunrise every morning - that’s a heck of an ask for a “chicken sitter” also.

 

[IamRainey]

As long as you're confident about the run being predator-proof it will be fine. That's the way I've done it since I got my 6-week old chicks about a year ago.

I kept mine enclosed in the coop for a week when they first arrived and, once that was over and I opened the pop door, I've never had to close it again. Nor did I have to do any training to get them to go up into the coop at sunset. They knew exactly where they wanted to be when the light was gone!

They're extremely good at being chickens so just enjoy them!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Will chickens put themselves to bed at dusk reliably? Yes, though it's something that needs to be taught to them. I lock mine in for a few days but you can also try homing them by manually putting them in every night until they get the hang of it.

As far as the pop door I'd recommend using an automatic door for your coop, as coops are generally more secure than runs - just being realistic as many people don't have "Fort Knox" runs.

 

[blackdog043]

My run is open 24/7. I have a roofed run, 1/2 hardware cloth from the roof down to the ground and out to make an apron. Also, the bottom 4 ft of the run has 2 x 4 industrial shelving racks. I'm confident enough to leave the door open.

 

[speedy2020]

If you don't feel safe enough, get yourself a automatic open/close door. I have AA battery operated Chicken Guard. It works well.

 

[LightningBug]

Thanks for the feedback, everybody!

So cold drafts from the pop door shouldn't be a problem, if the coop has proper (not too much/ not too little) ventilation? Pop door may need to be on the west side though, and prevailing winds in winter are from the north and north west (not true west).