Self sustainable?!?

[MamaSalce]

Okay so we built a 2 story run/coop. Run below, coop with nesting boxes and roosting bar on top. We have 4 chicks that will mostly be in there unless we are our with them due to hawks living in a tree in our neighbors yard. My question is, there is a ramp with a hole to the second story that I am for now closing off

with an extra piece of wood at night because they are young and I don’t want them to get drafty, do I have to figure out how to secure them every night or are they fine once they are older? It’s totally secured from predators with wire and locks but I keep reading about everyone putting their chickens in and letting them out everyday. I planned on letting them do their thing on their own once they are old enough. Is that okay?!?

 

[aart]

Pics of inside, please?
What are dimensions of the run below?
Looks kinda of small for four birds to in full time.

Oh, and..... Welcome to BYC! @MamaSalce
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[MamaSalce]

Pics of inside, please?
What are dimensions of the run below?
Looks kinda of small for four birds to in full time.

Oh, and..... Welcome to BYC! @MamaSalce
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2152385

Just ran out to snap a couple. It’s poopy! You can see where I put the wood down at night to cover the opening and I have the nesting boxes covered with cardboard. I read to do that until they start laying? The run space is 6 feet by 5 feet. I do sit out with them every afternoon under our fruit trees for about an hour. They love to roll around in the dirt under them!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Up to you whether you want to lock them in at night or not - depends on how secure you feel the run is. Chicken wire is NOT predator proof.

A few other things:

Is that little square window the only ventilation, or is there more on the backside we can't see?

Run is too small for full time use, you need at least another 10 sq ft at a bare minimum (I'd recommend another 30 sq ft at least). An hour of free ranging isn't going to make up for a tight fit, and you may see behavioral issues pop up from crowding.

 

[aart]

Chicken wire is NOT predator proof.

Think there's HC on there too..and hopefully an anti-dig apron.
But still, yeah, too small.

Agrees that ventilation is also lacking.
What are your annual high and low temps @MamaSalce?

It’s poopy! You can see where I put the wood down at night to cover the opening....The run space is 6 feet by 5 feet.

So the coop itself, not counting the nests, is about 4x4....minimum for 4 birds.
The 'floor door' is not good design, makes it hard for them to navigate inside coop, bedding falls out easily, ramp way too steep.

Sorry to be such a downer, but you've got more problems than whether to keep coop door shut at night.
Building a bigger run is a good suggestion......them night want to change the coop door.

 

[MamaSalce]

Up to you whether you want to lock them in at night or not - depends on how secure you feel the run is. Chicken wire is NOT predator proof.

A few other things:

Is that little square window the only ventilation, or is there more on the backside we can't see?

Run is too small for full time use, you need at least another 10 sq ft at a bare minimum (I'd recommend another 30 sq ft at least). An hour of free ranging isn't going to make up for a tight fit, and you may see behavioral issues pop up from crowding.

It has hardware cloth as well. There is another window the same size on the opposite side. We can always add to the run as they grow, this was just a start. I also plan on giving them more time to roam as I feel out their safety in our yard. I appreciate your input!!

 

[MamaSalce]

Think there's HC on there too..and hopefully an anti-dig apron.
But still, yeah, too small.

Agrees that ventilation is also lacking.
What are your annual high and low temps @MamaSalce?

So the coop itself, not counting the nests, is about 4x4....minimum for 4 birds.
The 'floor door' is not good design, makes it hard for them to navigate inside coop, bedding falls out easily, ramp way too steep.

Sorry to be such a downer, but you've got more problems than whether to keep coop door shut at night.
Building a bigger run is a good suggestion......them night want to change the coop door.

We just built this and have never had chickens before so as the days go on I have already been making adjustments! It is on concrete so there is not a need for anything to help with digging. I have decided to add barriers to the opening to help with the bedding falling through issue. As far as the steep ramp. If we end up adding onto the run I can easily adjust that. It’s a learning process and I am growing with them! Thanks for all the tips!

 

[aart]

It’s a learning process and I am growing with them!

Observe and Adjust!