Hi boys & girls... first post but have been reading here for a couple of months now. I'm about to finish my coop/run. It's a "Playhouse" type design. Will post pics when I'm done. It's been a lot more work than I thought. Anyhow, my question is: I live in Carlsbad, Ca. (One mile from the ocean) in north San Diego. It's pretty much 74 degrees here year round, 60's at night. Now it does drop into the 40's at night on a cold snap in the winter and it might hit the low 90's during a heat wave in the summer. Other than that, it pretty much 74 degrees. So..... is it necessary to put/confine chickens in the coop at night?? The coop/run is one unit and secure so predators are not an issue. TIA for any answers!
My chickens go intot he coop at night on their own, I have never had to 'lock them up'. It sounds like they are going to love it where you are, oh and to the forum!
I don't see why it would be necessary. They will go where their roosts are though. You could put roosts up outside, but if it rained they would be stuck in it.
I have a friend who has a completely enclosed pen with coop inside of it. They don't have a door on the coop, just let the chickens come and go inside as they want. They have several animals that run freely but haven't had a problem with the chickens. So I would say as long as pen is secure and covered securely and definate predator proof, that they would be fine.