Coop schedule

[Squawkers]

Does it ever lock them out of the coop? What if they’re not all in when it closes? Would they be ok, or traumatized for life?

It would only lock them out if the door shut too early. No, they wouldn’t be traumatized. Mine just come sleep on the back porch when if they get closed out.

 

[Squawkers]

How are they adjusting to the coop?

 

[chickenlover2344]

Quick question…I’m new to all this and I’m just trying to be prepared. I plan on putting the chicks to bed at dusk, but I leave for work around 6am. And sometimes it’s still dark outside. Can I open the coop then? I don’t want to confuse them

I open mine at 5:50 am but I have a fence for them

 

[Squawkers]

I open mine at 5:50 am but I have a fence for them

Yeah, as long as they have a predator proof run you can open it when you like. But because I don’t, I have mine open after it gets light.

 

[Nanook33]

Quick question…I’m new to all this and I’m just trying to be prepared. I plan on putting the chicks to bed at dusk, but I leave for work around 6am. And sometimes it’s still dark outside. Can I open the coop then? I don’t want to confuse them

Are they in a protected pen?

 

[The Good Grumble]

Maybe it’s not a big concern, but I would be worried about opening the door too long before it got light, in case any raccoons or other nighttime predators were still out. I have my automatic coop door open when there is a little bit of light out.

Yeah we have raccoons here that come out pre-dawn. The girls have a secure run, but I don’t want them terrorized & stressed either. I wait to open up until light.

 

[GardenDmpls]

I have a Pullet-Shut door. It has a solar panel (on the coop roof), a battery and a light sensor. The sensor means that it adapts to the longer days of summer and the shorter days of winter. The door shuts and after 30 seconds it reopens for a minute. The few times a chicken wasn't paying attention, you could see her suddenly looking around thinking, "They're all gone. What'll I do, what'll I do?" Then, the door would open and she would make a mad dash inside. Wouldn't happen again (at least with that chicken).

 

[troyak]

I have the chickenguard pro. It has worked great so far. You can program it to open and close at a certain time, or at a certain LUX setting. I have a lux setting set as the days are rapidly getting shorter here in northern Alberta. I originally had it running on 4 AA Batteries, but switched to plug in as I require it to keep there water from freezing.

 

[McChooky]

I keep a baby monitor in my house and one in the coop so whether my chickens are locked up or free ranging me and the dogs will always hear the chickens alerts. I never let my chickens out before noon and never without one of both dogs .I had 2 hens vanish mysteriously the same day before I started free ranging this way.