Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => Chicken Chat => Topic started by: wendyg on March 19, 2011, 15:25
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We are hoping to get some hybrids for our allotment in a few weeks time. What I would like to know is what time do people open and close their coops. Neither of us works, so we tend not to get up early, I have noticed that a few people let their chickens out at 5.30 am!, is this necessary. The allotment is only a couple of miles away, but it can take 20 minutes to get there (traffic congestion). Eventually we will modify the pop hole door (it is horizontal) and fit an automatic opener, (when we have saved up enough money).
Wendy
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I would say they need out of their coop as close to daylight as possible. Mine get out about 7.30am during the week and 8.15am at the weekends.
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Let them out any time up to 8.00AM - 8.30AM and close them in when they go to roost around about dusk.
Definitely get an automatic pop hole opener as it prevents all the hassle. Mine is set to open at 6.00AM if its light enough outside and then to close at dusk.
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mine are let out between 6 and 6.30 weekdays and 7 at the weekend usually :)
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Around 8am. Summer and winter.
Even with an automatic pop hole opener you must check them some time in the morning to ensure it has not malfintioned.
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i let mine out when i get up if its light (about 6.30) and when i leave for work if its still dark (about 7:30). Putting them away's not so bad because they'll go in when it gets dark themselves so if theyre in a foxproof run you don't have to be so prompt (although I wouldn't leave it too long).
Mine have got a large inside space now with a window (its a converted childs playhouse) and food & water in their coop - that way if i don't get up so early on a weekend, they still can and have everything they need!
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I have an enclosed/covered run and leave the pop hole open all the time.
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I found a website with the sunrise and sunset times for my location. I find they get up and go to bed within 10 minutes of sunrise/set so that's when I head out to make sure everything is ok and open and close their door.
They are just at the bottom of the garden and I work from home so it's easy for me.
My coop has large windows and I have a feeder and waterer in there, so if for some reason I couldn't let them out on time I wouldn't be too bothered about it - but I suspect they would be very grumpy with me!
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My chickens are out by 6:30am during the week and by 8am on weekends. When I shut them up depends on when I get back from work during the winter, and of course, during the summer it depends on them ;)