Vacation- leave coop door open at night?!

[HappyChickens101]

So I’m leaving for about a week. Will it be ok to keep my run door open at night because I don’t want to leave my chickens in their coop for that long?

 

[HomesteaderWife]

If you’re going to do this, you really need to 4000% quadruple check the predator proofing. We thought we had a safe pen and in a matter of 20 minutes most of our flock was lost to a dog attack years back who ripped through the wire. Know your predators whether wild or domestic. Be careful! If you can, try and ask a friend or other family member to “chicken-sit” for you that you trust.

 

[MarkJr]

If it leads into a predator proof run, it’s up to you. (Mines open all the time)

 

[21hens-incharge]

Ok it’s just a week is a long time to be stuck in a coop and run.

Better to be in a coop and run than a predators mouth.

 

[CluckerFamily]

I personally would only let them in my run since that is predator proof, no free ranging. We have lots of predators and weasels need a very small hole to get into and eliminate the entire flock. They can easily fit through a chicken wire hole.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I would not allow any ranging while you are away.

 

[HappyChickens101]

Alright thank

It is, but you can make it a little nicer by giving them plenty of stuff to scratch in: maybe a giant pile of dead leaves, or a few bales of hay or straw, or if you have a compost pile you could dump it all in there for them to scratch around and eat bugs.

And if they are free to go out and range in the daytime, but no-one is available to close the door at night, then a predator could easily come in to eat them. Bored for a week is better than dead.

Ok, thank you all for the advice. I will leave them in to keep my babies safe!

 

[CluckerFamily]

So you think I should just keep them enclosed? The run isn’t too big, but they can still stretch their legs.

If your run and coop are predator proof, I personally would allow them access to the run but no free-ranging. I'm not sure of your set up. My run has a roof, and apron, along with hardware cloth everywhere.

 

[CluckerFamily]

You could look into a chicken-sitter.
I'm afraid that when you return home, you won't have a flock.

 

[sourland]

Absolutely keep them enclosed, and I would install hot wire around their pen. A determined large predator can breach even hardware cloth given enough time.