What Time To Let Chickens Out

[DuckGirlie]

Hello everyone! So I have 6 chickens and 2 ducks, and I work as a wedding coordinator in Florida for a large company. This means working late nights multiple days in a row and often pretty far from where I live. I usually get up and let my birds out around 9:30 because generally it’s not feasible for me to get up super early, especially if I have another wedding. My question is, how much is this affecting my birds and their egg laying? Ideally I’ll get an automatic door someday but I can’t right now. My birds aren’t old enough for eggs yet but they should be in the next month or two

 

[atomic]

I’m almost in the same position as you, pretty much! I even live in Florida, Citrus county over here. My oldest three are also nearing laying age (I hope) as they are almost five months old. I also work nights and get up around the same time you do, and I keep mine locked in their coop til I wake up. They have a decent sized window so it’s not dark in there, so I don’t think it affects them in that sense. Is it pretty dark in your coop? I also would love an automatic door, it will definitely be a future purchase.

I think the only thing detrimental is they are mad at me it’s been daylight for some hours and I let them out “so late”.

 

[DuckGirlie]

I’m almost in the same position as you, pretty much! I even live in Florida, Citrus county over here. My oldest three are also nearing laying age (I hope) as they are almost five months old. I also work nights and get up around the same time you do, and I keep mine locked in their coop til I wake up. They have a decent sized window so it’s not dark in there, so I don’t think it affects them in that sense. Is it pretty dark in your coop? I also would love an automatic door, it will definitely be a future purchase.

I think the only thing detrimental is they are mad at me it’s been daylight for some hours and I let them out “so late”.

Yayy, I’m glad someone gets it! It’s pretty dark in my chicken coop but my ducks have pretty big windows! I’m thinking of maybe getting an automatic light? But yes, they get so mad when they hear me coming lol

 

[CashewVulture]

I let mine out at 10:30 am because coyotes are still pretty active around 8-9. My chickens absolutely get mad at me for this, but it doesn’t seem to affect egg laying. They lay very well.

 

[StarOnFire59]

Hello everyone! So I have 6 chickens and 2 ducks, and I work as a wedding coordinator in Florida for a large company. This means working late nights multiple days in a row and often pretty far from where I live. I usually get up and let my birds out around 9:30 because generally it’s not feasible for me to get up super early, especially if I have another wedding. My question is, how much is this affecting my birds and their egg laying? Ideally I’ll get an automatic door someday but I can’t right now. My birds aren’t old enough for eggs yet but they should be in the next month or two

I try to get out & open the coop door at sunrise. Today I dozed off & didn't get out 'til 7. Other than staring at me through their coop door they were fine.
One of my hens lays in the morning. The other 2 in the afternoon.
After they finish laying it is usually getting pretty hot in there, so I turn on their solar powered fan. It runs about 4 hours, then shuts off. Tomorrow is supposed to be 99*F outside.

 

[nuthatched]

I would add some more windows and vents in your coops and don't worry