Automatic chicken door timing for winter?

[Dynamissa]

So the chickies are going to roost at around 6pm these days. My coop door is automatic as closes at 7pm.


My question is, what time should I let them out? We have no food or water in the coop but the sun doesn’t come up until around 7-something right now, and we have it scheduled vs the sensor right now. Are they okay to be In there more than 12 hours?

The door currently opens before sunup and they do come out but they honestly just sort of stand around until the sun rises as far as I can tell. They don’t just stay inside until sun comes up.

They are in an enclosed runs.

 

[aart]

If the runs are predator proof, doesn't really matter what time the doors open.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Your door is allowing them access to the run (where I assume food and water are) at sunrise so it's working as intended.

I do NOT allow my birds until 7:45 AM regardless of when sunrise is, nor is there water or food inside, and they're perfectly fine like that year round.

 

[troyak]

I don’t want my chickens out of their coop until the sun has been up for at least a little while, hopefully all the nasty critters are gone by then. I don’t want to test the predator proof theory. I have the Chicken Guard auto door. It opens at 240 Lux. It happens to be pretty close to the time my little ones are finished laying.