When do they "coop" themselves?

[jwmoore09]

Ok thank you so much !! I was confused on that part of it, most of the stuff I have read has been for free ranging chickens and ours really won't be free ranging except on the weekends when we're outside to watch them, but we built a really big run for them so they will stay happy hopefully anyways !

 

[BethMatt]

We were having the same problems at dusk, we just bought a $3.00 solar light, rigged it up to the window inside the coop, to give of just enough light, so that they can see to come in the coop at dark, it's worked for a few nights now, I would recommend getting a solar light if you do not have electricity into your coop.

 

[RonP]

I am new to this, our baby chicks will be here next week but I was wondering do they have to be locked in the coop every night ? We have the coop attached to a completely enclosed run its pretty big. Since we work during the day they cannot free range until we are home to watch them. But I wasn't sure if they had to be locked in the actual coop at night or if they could be in their run as well so they have the choice ! Our chicks will be here next week and I have been researching like crazy but I still haven't found the answer ! I hope it's ok to post on this thread, it was the closest one to my question I could find

Chickens need to be locked up in their coop for their own protection against predators, who take advantage of the birds poor night vision.

If your run is secured against predators, there is no need to lock them up at night.

My run is as secure as my coop, thus the door to the run is open 24/7 365.

Hope this helps.