Settle an argument for me

[DaisyG2317]

I don't trust my TSC coop, so it is currently inside the run. I keep the coop door open 24/7. My chickens get up early and go stir-crazy if they are not let out promptly at 5 am. We are in the planning stage of a larger coop that will be outside the run. I hope by the time we get to building it that hardware cloth will be available again locally. Right now you cannot find it at all where I live and shipping is ridiculously expensive.

Gotta love those TSC coops

We got hosed by a "coop builder" and long story short have to wait 7 weeks for someone else to come out. So until then they are in TSC growout coop/run. I don't particularly trust it either. We reinforced it and secured it, buried cloth, added hasps with keyed locks, etc. So while realistically I think it'd be safe to leave the door open, I mentally don't want to do it!

 

[chknlittle17]

Gotta love those TSC coops

We got hosed by a "coop builder" and long story short have to wait 7 weeks for someone else to come out. So until then they are in TSC growout coop/run. I don't particularly trust it either. We reinforced it and secured it, buried cloth, added hasps with keyed locks, etc. So while realistically I think it'd be safe to leave the door open, I mentally don't want to do it!

I built a huge run around the coop. It has so far held up to several raccoons (they were huge omg) and an owl I think, I actually don't know what the heck the bird was but it was at night. We have buried wire mesh, but not deep because where I built the run you cannot dig deeper than about 10 inches due to tree roots and buried railroad ties. We are adding electric fencing this weekend because bears have been hanging around nearby.

 

[PioneerChicks]

The chickens will get up when they're ready. It's okay to open the door early.

To put them in at night, here's my advice: Training Chickens to "Coop" at Night
I lock my chickens in every night. If you are consistent enough, the predators will learn you are predator proof and it will be okay if you skip a night or two every month in summer. Winter is more dangerous because the predators are more hungry.

I love my predator proof run attached to the coops! That way if I am on vacation the chickens can still stretch their wings while not having to be locked in at night. But runs are not necessary, just a recommended idea.

Good luck winning the argument!

 

[DaisyG2317]

The chickens will get up when they're ready. It's okay to open the door early.

To put them in at night, here's my advice: Training Chickens to "Coop" at Night
I lock my chickens in every night. If you are consistent enough, the predators will learn you are predator proof and it will be okay if you skip a night or two every month in summer. Winter is more dangerous because the predators are more hungry.

I love my predator proof run attached to the coops! That way if I am on vacation the chickens can still stretch their wings while not having to be locked in at night. But runs are not necessary, just a recommended idea.

Good luck winning the argument!

Oh, I won

 

[PioneerChicks]

Oh, I won

 

[Lovem all]

I'm on your side. Chickens decide when bed time is over. Unless you are going in and putting them off the roost your fine (even then they'd probably get up and go back to bed) or turning on a light. Good luck.

 

[Flockincrazy]

BOOM. THANK YOU! That is 1000 percent what I thought (knew, lol!) To begin with. But those dang husbands...

Mine is the same way they think they know everything women just know more

 

[Sarkchick]

I don't trust my TSC coop, so it is currently inside the run. I keep the coop door open 24/7. My chickens get up early and go stir-crazy if they are not let out promptly at 5 am. We are in the planning stage of a larger coop that will be outside the run. I hope by the time we get to building it that hardware cloth will be available again locally. Right now you cannot find it at all where I live and shipping is ridiculously expensive.

Amazon has free shipping on hardwire cloth.

 

[Gene Neill]

But those dang husbands...

We are always wrong. We smart ones know this.

BTW, have you considered an automatic door?

 

[DaisyG2317]

We are always wrong. We smart ones know this.

BTW, have you considered an automatic door?

I have a Pullet Shut auto door for the big coop being built and was going to temp install it on the grow out coop but it's way too big for the space.