When do you open your coop doors?

[Malou-La-Croix]

My girls get let out when I wake up and go back in at dusk. They free range in my fenced backyard all day, even if I'm not home. So far so good!

 

[annie3001]

930am

 

[gritsar]

The other night, an hour or so after dark, a pack of coyotes traveled through and were so loud with their yipping and howling that we heard them in the house; windows closed, A/C and TV on. The door on my coop gets locked at dusk, come heck or high water. Right after I do a head count.

 

[BigSkyChickens]

I'm a dork and I like to go by exact sunrise and sunset times from the Farmer's Almanac......until we get the automatic chicken door figured out.

But this commute/work thing is starting to get in my way. Right now I only have about 20 min. with them in the morning and 40 minutes with them in the evening before sunset! And the days are just getting shorter.

Sorry to rant, but I miss my chickens!

 

[Beekissed]

I never close mine!

They free range anytime they feel like it. Of course, I have some mighty fine dogs sleeping right next to my coop, so I don't have problems with anything at night.

 

[RedStarDaddy]

I have been letting the girls out after noon in the hopes that they have all finished laying by that time. They will be spending a little bit more time inside over the next week, though; I found another egg in the machine shed after I let them out this afternoon. Three did troop back inside to lay yesterday, so that is encouraging. The greasy eggs may end real soon.

RSD

 

[ChickenCat]

I open the pop door at 6:15 am. and leave for work. The "girls" have hundreds of acres to free range. Of course, the first place they head for is the road!!

(I know this from their weekend routine.) Anyway, they free range anywhere they want all day til they put themselves to bed about 7:30 now. I then close the pop door. i know I'm gonna come home one day and find a black spot in the road or the little cooper hawk has gotten one. But darn it, these girls are so happy scouring the fields, creek, horse piles, cow patties, etc.

Everyone of them trek back to the hen house to lay. I've talked to them about the importance of eggs in the box.

means food in the trough. As if they need food in the trough. I pet each one every night and sneak a feel of their crops.

Some of those girls amaze me as to how full they are at night time. they just cluck softly and settle down. Happy birds they are!!!

 

[rmc85]

I let mine out at 7:30 and then close the coop/run up at dusk when they come back.

 

[beckyschicks]

My coops not done yet, so I have two that are 4months that sleep in a stall in the barn and come and go as they please. I have 20 4week olds that are in a run with a house for them. I open the door at 6 when I leave for work and don't close it until after dark. This seems to work for them and me. It does stink lately because it's still chilly and dark at that hour. I have good dogs that keep an eye out for everyone. Even hawks that come or fly into the yard get barked at and chased off.

 

[comp6512]

Quote:
How do you call on them? Hey, chickie, chickie, chickie?

I am serious.