Do I need to lock chickens up at night

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

I have been locking my chickens up at night and I know there have been coyotes like 3 blocks away and possums and raccoons in town plus an armadillo in my yard but should I lock my chickens up

 

[LaFleche]

Yes, you should.

 

[fluffycrow]

Agreed. Without anything to protect them (but honestly even with something) it's just not safe enough. What breeds do you have? They might not be able to fly high enough to roost safely in the first place

 

[MarkRainbolt]

I have been locking my chickens up at night and I know there have been coyotes like 3 blocks away and possums and raccoons in town plus an armadillo in my yard but should I lock my chickens upView attachment 3576965

Well if you don’t mind giving the predators a midnight snack , then don’t lock them up. But if you do care lock them up.
Mark

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

#1 - Black French Copper Maran pullet. 14 weeks

#2 - Lavender Orpington cockerel. 14 weeks

#3 - Blue Copper Maran pullet. 14 weeks

#4 - Black French Copper Maran I think, it is a pullet. 14 weeks

#5 - Black Copper Maran, cockerel. 8 weeks

#6 - Easter Egger, leaning cockerel. 8 weeks

#7 - Easter Egger pullet. 8 weeks

#8 - Speckled Sussex, thinking pullet. 8 weeks

#9 - Speckled Sussex I think, that is a pullet. 8 weeks

#10 - Golden Laced Polish, 7 weeks too young to sex.

#11 - Silkie, 7 weeks also too young to sex.

 

[LaFleche]

Their breed will not matter to the predators, they will find them all very tasty.

 

[fluffycrow]

Their breed will not matter to the predators, they will find them all very tasty.

The breed won't matter to the predator, but a silkie won't be able to reach a safe roost, so it matters to us

 

[LaFleche]

The breed won't matter to the predator, but a silkie won't be able to reach a safe roost, so it matters to us

There is no safe roost in the run unless they will be roosting in the coop where the Silkie will be safe sleeping on the ground as well provided they will be locked up safely.

But some people get lucky and even without locking up their poultry they rarely have predator attacks.

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

The breed won't matter to the predator, but a silkie won't be able to reach a safe roost, so it matters to us

And one of my speckled Sussex wing feathers are curled

 

[fluffycrow]

There is no safe roost in the run unless they will be roosting in the coop where the Silkie will be safe sleeping on the ground as well provided they will be locked up safely.

But some people get lucky and even without locking up their poultry they rarely have predator attacks.

I thought OP meant leaving their birds roost on the trees outside the coop, where the silkie definitely won't be able to fly to. Sorry for misunderstanding