Question about entrance into coop

[Lonnieandjess]

Do you use a automatic door or do you put your chickens in and out every night? If you do put the in and out what time? I’m trying to figure out what I need to do. We are putting ours in their coop tomorrow.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I am up early so they are let out at sun up and they go to bed on their own just before dusk. I go out just after dusk and make sure everyone is in then manually close the door.

It gives me the chance to check the run for any breaches before I let them out. We had a fox dig under the perimeter fence just once but once was one time to many. I would worry one would be lurking waiting for breakfast if I had an automatic door.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I use an auto door simply because I wake up late, and would like the chickens to be able to get out of the coop at a reasonable hour. It's also convenient for those times where I'm busy in the evening, whether it's cooking or out for dinner, for peace of mind knowing that the birds are locked in for the night without my having to hustle out there.

My door is set to 7:45 am, closing time varies depending on time of year - short days in winter means closing at 4:30 pm, longer summer days means closing at 9:30 pm.

 

[David61]

My door is manual. They can stay in if the weather is bad and they do even if the door is open. But my design is an open coop with raised roost box. I shut the door at dusk or after dark. They are on the roost before dark. I'm in no hurry to open the door. Food and water are inside as well as in the run. And they lay most of the eggs before 8am. I get the door up 6:30-7:30. But I am also in a subdivision and predator's are a wee hour visits. If your more in the country opening and closing after dawn and before dusk may be an advantage.

 

[JoannaJ]

Mine walk in around dusk. Chickens actually have a really poor eyesight. We live on a farm and foxes tend to 'feed' in the early evening or early morning, so my advice don't set it up to open too early. And defo adjust that as the year progresses and we loose the light earlier in winter etc.
General rule of thumb and this may sound stupid, dont let them out when its still dark and get them in before its dark...

 

[aart]

My coop is big enough for them to stay inside all day, but I get up early anyway.
They do not free range so little risk in locking up after dark once they are all inside roosting.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I let them out every morning and close the door every night. I like to check around the run and make sure nothing tried to get in over night (or that nothing did get in), I like to check on all of them and make sure they're all acting ok and look ok, and I have 1 girl who needs a little help. Some nights shell be wondering around the run crying when all of her sisters are already in bed. Most of the time her sister will go out and get her but sometimes they dont and I need to get her tucked into bed. Shes my special girl.

 

[blackdog043]

I don't close my door, it stays open 24/7. I'm pretty confident in my set up for predators. I've had raccoons and possums dig around the run, but give up because of the wire apron. Plus my run and all of the openings are 1/2" hardware cloth, the run has a solid roof also. I still see them in my yard on the game cameras, but they haven't shown interest, trying to get the chickens anymore. I'm still out there in the morning and evening, checking things out. I just don't have to worry about being home, at a certain time of the day. I don't have to rely on anyone to look after my flock, when I go on vacation either.