Y close the coop?

[NonnasBabies]

I don't close mine up, but then again we didn't build an enclosed coop but a 3 sided one!

Missi

 

[Judy]

I don't close mine up, either. They are free range and I am out in the country. We have the usual mix of southern predators, fox, coon, etc. But we also have dogs and cats that hang around the chickens, and that have killed a large poisonous snake (one that I know of) and numerous rats (the big ones.) I figure a fox would lose the fight and a coon would leave. I have a good sized chicken yard, maybe 70'x100', that at one point had electric wire. The fence itself is very sturdy and 6' tall. I leave the gate open. The dogs got bit by the electric fence when it was on, and never go in there, although it has been off for a year or so. I figure some predators had the same thing happen to them; I used to hear noises indicating this, at night.

At one point I kept the gate closed and the fence turned on, but did not close the pop door to the coop.

Yes, I could lose chickens. And have, before the dogs were so helpful. But my chickens are living a natural chicken life and always have access to greenery and bugs.

It's a personal choice. Lots of people on here give them various levels of freedom, and lots more keep them in Fort Knox. You will never get a consensus to your question.

 

[gavinandallison]

one word - YES!

 

[Rockin' Reds]

I don't have an enclosed run on the top so I definitely close everything up at night, including the food and water. We have the typical predators, i.e. raccoons, foxes, etc... and I know I sleep a lot better knowing everything is secure!!

 

[FireTigeris]

I have an 12*20*8 foot enclosed run that has roost up at 6 feet and 6.5 feet and around the edges, the whole thing is hardware cloth, and the floor is pvc lattice at 1 inch diamonds (across the widest point)... the roof is metal or hardware cloth. they do not sleep in the coop anymore unless broody- rats are excluded but a snake might not be.

I do not close the coop anymore.

 

[Indy acres]

We lock ours up at night because one night we forgot to and we lost 2 of our big meat chickens 2 layers and a duck and I sure sleep better knowing they are all ok, and its sad to lose them and also expensive.

 

[MakNugget]

It's certainly a risk you have to consider.

Aside from dogs and such, the run is for most the first line of defense against predators. When the run is breached, the only protection the chickens have is their coop, and if the door is open, that's not going to help them at all. I designed my coop to be secure, and the run "daytime" secure until I get more time to make it better. At some point when the run is fully secure, I plan to add an automatic door (in conjunction to my pop door) to let them have more freedom. Until then, they have to wait.

I've read several posts in the past where people have not had predator problems for years with lax security, until they finally do, and it's not a pretty sight hearing of the aftermath.

Does closing the coop 100% guarantee safety for the chickens? No, but it certainly ups their chances. If you choose to leave the coop open, you have to be more prepared to the possibility of going outside in the AM to find dead chickens.

 

[write2caroline]

I lock my girls in at night so the raccoons, foxes, owls and other nocturnal animals can't get to them.
Caroline

 

[WiscoChiko]

Thanks for all the input, I took it to heart, saying that I have decided to start leaving my coop open all the time! They all go in at night and the run is pretty darn secure! If I did lock them up there is no way of anything getting to them. But this way they can come out when they want in the morning. Thanks W.C.

 

[MakNugget]

If you are comfortable with that, I would consider an automatic door. Hens at night aren't going outside anyway, so if you program the door to close well after all of them are asleep and open before sunrise, that should offer additional security without restricting your girls ability to go out as they please.