Should my chicks have access to the coop all day?

[The Kid Farmer]

Hi! Today we built a ramp for our chickens to access the coop from the run, and I've spent a while teaching them to use it. Am I supposed to leave the door to the coop open all day so that the chicks can access the coop? Also related to that, once the chicks learn to use the ramp, they will go in when it gets dark on their own right? or do I have to teach them to do that.

Thanks!

 

[The Kid Farmer]

They are 6 weeks old and this is their 4th day in the coop outside.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

The door should be closed at night. They should learn in their own. My birds sometimes like to stay outside. But i put them back in the coop because of predators. Good luck with your chicks.

 

[The Kid Farmer]

I know the door should be closed at night, but should it be closed during the day?

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

No the chicks need to be able to go in there during the day.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

Especially if they have food and water in there. Also there nesting box is going to be in the coop right? I know they arent laying now but they will be soon enough.

 

[The Kid Farmer]

Ok! They have water in both the coop and the run but the food is only in the run. And yes, the nesting boxes are in the coop but they are blocked off right now.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes they should have access to it all day, regardless if food or water is in or out. They can use it for shelter from bad weather, to rest in, or sometimes just to get a break from the pecking order.

 

[3KillerBs]

Yes, they should have free access to their coop in the daytime. The more space available the better.

 

[Finnie]

They do not always go into the coop at night automatically. You may have to pick them up and put them in for the first few nights. Sometimes I will hang a small flashlight in the coop and turn it on before dusk. Before they learn to roost, they have no motivation to go into a dark box, so lighting it up makes it more attractive when the outside world starts to get dark.