Total nighttime lockdown.

[Henriettamom919]

We've been fortunate in both where we live, how long the property has been owned by my family and that our predators are few and mostly birds of prey.

A few nights ago we had a strange cat sniffing around the fenced garden the littles coop is in and my cats (who typically deeply dislike one another) worked together to chase it off and stood sentinel near both coops afterward.

Obviously I've been locking even my big girls in at night; being free range they normally come down a side ramp with a pet flap shortly after sunrise.

While I'm grateful this is an option I'm *not* enjoying getting up at 5am even on Saturday to open everything up for everyone during this lockdown phase God bless those of you who are literally up with your chickens every morning.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I haven't YET... but some folks use automated doors on their coops.

I haven't gotten that far north yet.. but I LOVE living in the Pacific Northwest! We can be rainy day neighbors (practically).

 

[50-45-1]

I have a sizable coop and manually open the chicken door. I have the full list of preditors and my chickens are locked tight every night.
I dont open them up until 9 am.
I have heard the auto doors are kind of light weight and are not racoon proof.
But it sounds like your only concern is cats. I dont think a ferel cat will kill a full grown chicken. Maybe if you have bantams or baby chicks they can do some damage.

I have a cousin who lives near Snohomish, and my husbands brother lives in Squahomish? Not sure about that spelling, and my Son lived in Eureka for 12 years. My husband lived in Yachats in the 1970-1980's. Beautiful Beautiful country!

 

[cmom]

I leave my pop doors open but I have my coops and pens I think very secure and haven't had a loss to a predator in quite a few years. There may be a time when I will but I haven't for a long time. I live in Florida and a few years ago my hubby and a friend built me two coops that are open on one side so I have no way to close them. I do have several game camera around on our property and most nights see a predator on at least one of the cameras. Mostly coyotes.

 

[killeengreen]

We've been discussing whether to leave their door open or not at night. Right now I get up around 5am and open their door. For the most part I don't mind as I have to be up for work during the week anyways. But I agree, getting up early on the weekend sucks! Their entire yard area is completely covered with chicken wire so no flying predators can get to them (or roost in their coop), and we feel like their whole yard area is fairly secure along the ground to keep out other animals like coyotes, but we're still leery about leaving the door open all night.

 

[trudyg]

I have an ADOR automatic door. Kinda pricey, but love it. I got it so I could go to a wedding and didn't have anyone who could come open/close for me. Well worth the price to me.

 

[cmom]

I leave my pop doors open but my coops and pens are very secure. I have around 300 plus birds so I have a lot of coops. I have dealt with my share of predators in the past.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I am a door closer.
Even though my runs are secure I would say I sleep better knowing they are all locked up.

Yup 5am is early for most peeps. I have been up at 4am for so many decades it doesn't bother me.

 

[cmom]

I have a couple of coops that are open on one side so I don't have pop doors in them. My hubby and a friend built these for me as a surprise. His heart was in the right place but not how I would have built them. Several years ago I had an owl get in and kill several birds so I put heavy duty netting over all of my pens.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

I'm *not* enjoying getting up at 5am

Then don't Let them out when it's convenient for you.

Gary