So when do you close the pop door for the night? As soon as they go in, or later?

[ChicoryBlue]

I enjoy my Bantams bed time routine so usually around 6:30pm ish I sit on the porch of the coop rest and throw a little scratch and just drink a cold drink and enjoy my gals and roos. About 7 i turn out the lights so every one can start to settle some will already be on the roost then some lately as late as 7:45. At 7:30 I go over and throw some scratch into the run of the big girls and they all pile into the run to get it. They then get to put themselves to bed since the run iss secure I don't close the pop doors in the summer. So they can get out into the run at will in the mornings. Back to the Bantams and sit on the porch and sisten to their bed time antics. Maybe pet and love up on some of em. Then when the last one is in I close everything up. Might stay a while or usually I've been wiorking so I gladly head in to shower and enjoy me evening. Once I get my secure run done around the Bantams(Hobitses) They also will have a open pop door in the summer. To avoid most of the predator problems we usually wait till about 8:30 to let them out we found out early on that letting them out first thing was inviting trouble. waiting does'nt completely eliminate predation but it helps. If it is getting really hot early I will go out and often stand gaurd as I let them out early. Whew that was alot I have the misfortune of being disabled but that leaves me more time for my girls.

Thank you I very much appreciate hearing about your routine, especially your experience on how early to open the pop door in the morning. I am semi-retired as my work hours have been greatly reduced due to the pandemic. Leaves me lots of time to tend to them and watch them, which is wonderful!
PS I love your name Hobbitses for the bantams, very true! My friendly neighbor a couple of miles away has bantam Buckeyes, they are about as big as my 9-week old Buckeyes are right now!

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I do find my younger birds go to bed later, especially pre-laying. Once they're all laying they tend to adopt the adult routine.

I close up shop as close to them all being in bed as I notice. We have a SERIOUS raccoon problem. One even showed up BEFORE it was actually dark out and my rooster got into a fight with it. (Good boy.) So we close up shop ASAP. But I have BIG south-facing windows on mine so they can still see a little at night.

View attachment 2319509

Not really taken to show off the coop, but you can see one of the windows in the background.

Interesting, thank you! Yes I see your coop, and a beautiful bird's back! Love the white and red and golden colors! That big window is an advantage for light. My coop (Eglu Cube) gets very little light through the vents, though it's not pitch-black in there. I do notice though that these chicks go to the dimmest, furthest corner from the pop door when they settle in for the night.

 

[jsr5]

I have noticed they prefer to go to the darkest and them face the windows to roost especially south windows so they can catch that first bit of light. That is not absolute as the roost space is tight until I get more built and not all alow facing southeast but they will go through some pretty good acrobatics to get faced to the morning light if it is at all possible.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I have noticed they prefer to go to the darkest and them face the windows to roost especially south windows so they can catch that first bit of light. That is not absolute as the roost space is tight until I get more built and not all alow facing southeast but they will go through some pretty good acrobatics to get faced to the morning light if it is at all possible.

When they roost for a quick rest during the day, where do they go? One of the chicks (Peanut) goes back into the coop, which has the pop door now open, but it's shady in there, and the other three roost on two bars I set up in front of the coop that are under a dark blue rain cover. And lately I notice anyone on the upper bar faces the coop wall, away from the light. There's no view at all. When on the lower bar they face outward, toward the coop run opening and with more view. I assume there's a reason. I'd like to make their life as accommodating to being a chicken as I can. If there is some change they would prefer I'll try it. I would put up a suggestion box but I don't speak Chicken very well yet! So I ask you all!

 

[jsr5]

Some go under Coop some hang out under parked vehicles. I am building a covered sun room dust bath with a raised garden bed made of concrete blocks they can get under to cool off in hot weather. I also saved some large limbs and tree tops when I was clearing an area and put some up in shady areas for a place to roost. A d much to my wifes chagrin if the garage is open they love to get in there. Of course they make a mess knocking things over and pooping everywhere.

 

[HappyClucker7]

I never close my pop door. The chickens are out and about a lot earlier than I would get up in the morning, so I think it would be cruel to keep them locked up for so long. Their coop is completely predator proof, so I feel comfortable enough to keep the door open all night.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I close my run when I know everyone is inside. I don't ever close the actual house invade one is being bullied and needs to get away. Also so if I'm a little lazy, they aren't kept in just a coop until noon