Why lock them up?

[BruceAZ]

I don't lock the coop* since i don't see the point when the run is already locked and secured with 1/2 in hardware cloth.

Of course, it will depend on your area. I live in the city so just dogs and cats to worry about.

My own dog will run after and sniff the chickens the first few times but she's ok with them now.

*(for ventilation in Arizona heat and easy for the chickens to go in and out on their own)

 

[Beer can]

I personally don't lock my chickens in the coop because I can't always remember to let them out in the early morning. The run is secure enough.

Same here. I only close the pop door when it's subzero wind blowing at night.

 

[HnkyDnkyZZFarm]

I coop my bunch at night. Coyotes are determined old buttheads. That and fences don't just hang out and stay as secure as you'd hope. Things dry, shift, wear and tear happens, storms, and so on and so forth. Chicken wire isn't secure against the claws of a determined predator like a dog and if they manage to get their heads through a gap, things can grab them without ever coming in. The neighbors dogs are an ever present hazard.

 

[yyz0yyz0]

Same here. I only close the pop door when it's subzero wind blowing at night.

+1

My run is is made out of chainlink dog kennel panels with chicken wire on the bottom 2ft and a chain link fence apron on the outside. Since the run is as secure as the coop there's no reason besides weather to close the pop door.

Plus, due to chicken math my coop is currently overcrowded so leaving the door open all the time gives them the option of just leaving the coop if it's too crowded in the morning.

The convenience of not having to worry about opening/closing a pop door is just one more "perk" to never closing it.