WARNING to walk-in coop owners

[Hermits Garden]

If you use a storm door as the human door, or any kind of door with a lock on it, DISABLE THE INSIDE LOCK.

I just discovered that on my last trip to bring in some things to work on (chicks in three weeks), I accidentally nudged the lock into position, so when I closed the door--I got locked out of the coop!

We built our coop as a 12 x 10 shed, with the farthest 3 ft on the end as a garden tool closet with its own door. So now I will have to climb the interior wall on that end, and across the rafters, taking out the chicken wire I had installed, and down into the coop side. I'm pushing 60 and not looking forward to this test of my agility, but the hubs is waiting for an orthopedic surgery and is not a candidate. (I may have to tie him to a chair to enforce this, but whatever it takes.)

Once I get in there, I plan to disable the locking mechanism, as I see no reason I will EVER need to lock the coop from the inside, barring alien invaders. And if that's the case, I'd rather be in the house where the guns are.

So learn from my foolishness and beware the accidentally locking door!

 

[JoJoM]

I’d send my kid in through the chicken door!

 

[PopoMyers]

I’d send my kid in through the chicken door!

In her case, maybe a grandkid.

 

[Hermits Garden]

I’d send my kid in through the chicken door!

I haven't cut the chicken doors yet! And don't know anyone small enough to get in there--family is all scattered across the US.

I've gone through a doggy door more than once to unlock a house, but I guess I'll just head through the rafters. I'll let y'all know how it worked out. Ha!

 

[nuthatched]

Do you know anyone with a drill and saw?

 

[springvalley123]

Do you know anyone with a drill and saw?

Good idea! Drill, jig saw, then you've got a useful door/window, a little bit of furring or trim strips to fix it and you have a nicely framed removable door/window. Safer than climbing!

 

[Hermits Garden]

Good idea! Drill, jig saw, then you've got a useful door/window, a little bit of furring or trim strips to fix it and you have a nicely framed removable door/window. Safer than climbing!

I did it! My Spidey Skills are rusty, but still intact. It helps that my husband overbuilds the sh*t out of every single thing, so I was actually able to drop down to the roosts, then on from there. Those roosts are going to be able to handle the world's heaviest chickens, lemme tell ya!

 

[mowin]

I would have kicked the door open.

 

[Sueby]

My DH locked me in the chicken run once by accident & went in the house. I had no phone. I stood there yelling for like 10 minutes throwing rocks trying to break windows. LOL. Man was I mad. & of course he thought it was hilarious.

Glad you got it straightened out!

 

[Artichoke Lover]

My DH locked me in the chicken run once by accident & went in the house. I had no phone. I stood there yelling for like 10 minutes throwing rocks trying to break windows. LOL. Man was I mad. & of course he thought it was hilarious.

Glad you got it straightened out!

Years back my friends little sister managed to lock herself in their coop in the rain. My friend ( her older sister) just stood at the window and stuck her tongue out. She did eventually go let her out but it was probably a good 20min later....