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TIL from a retired farmer in Modesto that I was locking my hens in the coop wrong for 2 years
I ran into this older guy at the feed store in Modesto last week and we got to talking about our flocks while waiting in line. He asked how many hens I keep (9, all barred rocks) and then asked what time I shut the coop door at night. I said right at dusk, every night, because that's what I always read you should do. He kind of laughed and said that's exactly when the hens are still shuffling around and it stresses them out, and that predators usually show up way later anyway, like 2 or 3 in the morning. He said he's kept birds for 40 years out near the orchards and he waits until full dark, checks with a flashlight, and lets them settle first. I tried it for the past 6 nights and my girls are calmer going in and I'm not chasing stragglers around with a net anymore. It's such a small change but it made me realize I've just been copying advice without thinking about why. Anyone else here switch up their coop routine after one conversation like that?
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paul_owens2515d ago
Keeps working for you so I won't tell you to stop, but the dusk thing isn't really wrong, and there's a reason folks repeat it. Hens can't see much once it's dark, so if a predator shows up before you get out there they're basically sitting ducks, plus raccoons and foxes will absolutely cruise a coop earlier than 2am if they've learned the routine. Waiting for full dark works fine when you're home every night and nothing is scouting your run, but the old timers I know out here mostly close up at dusk and then do a late check before bed. If the girls are calmer with the later door, more power to you, just don't bank on predators sticking to a schedule.
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