Wake up time for chickens

[ARose4Heaven]

I have 54 hens in a 9x12 nesting area at night...so I get up just before the sun to keep them from getting bored and picking at each other. They have a large covered run for nasty weather and access to free range from there. If your coop is a little on the small side, an automatic pop door is recommended. It is best to make your coop a bit oversized. That is not only for them to stay happy while you slumber... but also to take into account "chicken math".


Welcome to the most addictive pet ownership of your life! And

 

[Naughty]

I usually let mine out at 6 am during the week when I have to go to work - but on Weekends it may be 8 or 9 or even 10 before I get out there. They don't seem too stressed by it.

As for crowing - my roo crows every m orning - most of the night - when he sees my car drive up - and when I am walking out to the coop - I whistle to get his attention - he will start crowing (he can't see me yet - but he recognizes the whistle) - I am lucky I live near very tolerant neighbors

 

[MyKidLuvsGreenEgz]

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It's a myth that roosters crow at daybreak. They crow all the time!

I have 3 roosters. One insists on crowing at 2:30-3:00 every morning and keeps on crowing till around 10 p.m. Another starts at 5:00 a.m. and does it periodically throughout the day. And the third, we just got, and he usually waits until daybreak.

As long as they have (unfrozen) water to drink, you can wait until 8 or 9 or whatever to let them out to free-range. Depends on your setup, your coop, your feed, your weather, etc. I agree with the automatic pop-door suggestion.

 

[CarolAnn]

My habit has been to get up just as the sun is rising to open my coop and feed my chickens. The pop door opens into the run. However, in the last week or so I haven't been able to get out there until before around 8:30-9:00 am and they've been just fine. It took a while after the snow started falling before they'd even step out in the run, so I think they made themselves more content to stay inside. I have one roo, who was usually crowing when I was walking to the coop in the early mornings. I see no pattern to his crowing. He starts when he wakes and wants to be heard and stops when he wants at night. He's a cochin with little guy syndrome, and right now he has no feathers on his feet or legs. That's GOT to be embarrassing!!

 

[Rocky Top Chick]

Trust me, I am a late riser, but in nice weather I can't wait to get outside and say "Hi" to the girls. They have learned to sleep a little later than most.

 

[Laurajean]

I'm telling you guys, my rooster has proven the day break crow to NOT be a myth. He literally crows like crazy every single morning at the crack of dawn, no matter what time of year it is. Having said that, he will also crow at random other times throughout the day, like when I'm in the yard, when company comes (guess he thinks he's a guard dog), and other random times. But always and faithfully at day break.

 

[Thousand Oaks Family]

I would highly recommend installing an automatic door! I noticed I got more eggs too!

 

[farmer_lew]

We let our girls out between 7 & 8 in the morning. By that time they are pacing back and forth in front of the door anxious to get out. I have a light in the coop on a timer set to come on close to 4am and off at 8am. No automatic door, although I am intrigued by that. It would allow me to sleep in on days off!