Will waking chickens up to early cause problems?

[Mum]

Interesting that your wife isn't (yet!) on board with the idea, because I'll bet she will be when she finds that chickens all have individual personalities and the eggs taste out of this world compared to shop eggs

My dh wasn't enthusiastic, now he is the softie with the girls

 

[stcroixusvi]

For a while I was getting up in the dark and going out to the coop to remove our gentle rooster before the uglies got up. I figured he needed the warmth of the other chickens in the winter, but if we left him in when the sun came up, his poor head would be bloody from the bullies. I would pick him from the roost (among 21 other chickens) and none of the others would budge. It always struck me as odd - if I was a predator, I could have a field day. They are so docile in the night, and particularly if they can't see. Now we don't bother putting Andy in with the others at night, but put him in our garage in a dog carrier. And his new coop is almost finished!

short answer: No problem! Get the chickens!

 

[stcroixusvi]

Interesting that your wife isn't (yet!) on board with the idea, because I'll bet she will be when she finds that chickens all have individual personalities and the eggs taste out of this world compared to shop eggs

My dh wasn't enthusiastic, now he is the softie with the girls

ditto - and by the way, very cute hen in your avatar!

 

[Mum]

ditto - and by the way, very cute hen in your avatar!

Thank you

 

[centrarchid]

New guy here...great site. I leave for work around 4:30 am and was wondering if checking in on the chicken's food and water that early in the morning would cause stress or other problems. Tried the search function and didn't find anything.

I'm in the "thinking about it" stage so no birds yet. I may have to abandon the idea if waking them that ealy will be problematic because my wife is not on board with the chicken idea. I could probably talk her into letting them out into the run, but that would be about it.

Thanks a bunch

If supplemental lighting required to feed and water when birds are on roost, then consider a red light. The light can either be part of the coop or a red filter on a flashlight. You will be able to see by light but birds will not be disturbed. I try to avoid having birds get off roost when dark as that can be a source of stress or degrade your predator management is roost provides some protection from ground dwellers.

 

[tweetysvoice]

I'm glad you asked this question - I'm in the planning stages as well. I'll be getting up at 5:30 am to go to work and wondered how I would handle the morning routine with the chickens.
Because I will not have an auto door opener at the beginning, I'm planning on opening up the door before I leave for work. Because of this reason, I'm going to make sure that the run is covered so I don't have to worry about the girls while I'm at work. I can't see leaving them cooped up till 3:30 when I get home then letting them out (unless it below zero temps). Does anyone do this? Keep them in the pen during the day and then let them out when they get home from work?

 

[centrarchid]

I'm glad you asked this question - I'm in the planning stages as well. I'll be getting up at 5:30 am to go to work and wondered how I would handle the morning routine with the chickens.
Because I will not have an auto door opener at the beginning, I'm planning on opening up the door before I leave for work. Because of this reason, I'm going to make sure that the run is covered so I don't have to worry about the girls while I'm at work. I can't see leaving them cooped up till 3:30 when I get home then letting them out (unless it below zero temps). Does anyone do this? Keep them in the pen during the day and then let them out when they get home from work?

Yes, and it works just fine.