WARNING to walk-in coop owners

[Hermits Garden]

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....

I wonder what kind of revenge lil' sis extracted.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

I wonder what kind of revenge lil' sis extracted.

Shockingly none that I can remember. They both usually got along well and neither were the type for revenge. She did rat her out to their mom but since we were all in Highschool by that point so their mom didn’t really care.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Hmm...this gives me a good idea next time I want some peace and quiet. I did get locked in the chicken run a couple times so its believable...

 

[Hermits Garden]

Shockingly none that I can remember. They both usually got along well and neither were the type for revenge. She did rat her out to their mom but since we were all in Highschool by that point so their mom didn’t really care.

I was picturing little girls--like 8 or 9. I confess it's something I might have done to my little sister, but she was stronger and faster than I was!

 

[kerbotx]

I, too, have busted out the side of the coop like the crazy Kool Aid man... The second time it happened, I kicked the offending door out of its latch - now I figure a brick is all the interior security I need

 

[Ryder_sanders]

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--it's now locked.

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!

My neighbor did this with her horse barn and got stuck for 12 hrs until the neighbor heard her screaming

 

[Sally PB]

Thank goodness I can NOT lock myself in -- or out -- of my coop or run. Someone else could lock me in the run, I suppose.

 

[janiedoe]

@Hermits Garden I admire your spirit. And, your hubby's building skills.
I've been locked in the run before. My own fault. Fortunately, I'd left the oven on. Once DH smelt something burning, he finally noticed I wasn't around. Took him long enough.
Last week I locked one of my cats in. We looked for her the next morning when she didn't show up for a meal. I was late feeding the chickens because of that...and there she was. She's lucky they didn't eat her, they are big, healthy hens, with big appetites.

 

[3KillerBs]

I can't lock myself in because of the design, but my DH doesn't want me to go out without my phone in my pocket in case I have a fall or something.

I don't remember what article or thread it was, but I read somewhere on here about a person who has a panel in one coop wall that can be removed only from the inside and requires no tools to open specifically to prevent the possibility of being shut in.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

My chick shed is super easy to get locked in. I never go there without having phone so I can call someone to get me out