Do you have to shut the chickens in the coop at night and if so why? Also how much grit to feed?

Question

Do you have to shut the chickens in the coop at night and if so why? Also how much grit to feed?

Answer 1

yes, because foxes can get them, and feed them 3 cups of grit a day

Answer 2

Yes, Because they need a place to sleep and lay eggs. Also to keep them from wandering away at night and from being a snack for a cat, dog, fox, coyote, mink, raccoon, hawk, eagle, or anything else that thinks a chicken would make a good meal.

Give them free choice grit, give them the option and let them decide when they need it. Grit is used to aid in the digestion of food and some grit has calcium in it so hens can lay healthy eggs and have good bones too.

Answer 3

You need to put the chickens away at night to protect them from predators.  Where we live, there is a risk of foxes, mink, pine marten, and birds of prey.  Predators are most likely to attack at night but can also attack in the day so if you live in an area where you have foxes and other predators you should find other ways to deter them aswell  

(fencing and fox deterrents).

How much grit? - half a scoop of grit to every 10 to 15 scoops of feed is a good general guide.

You can also offer it to them separately.  As long as there is enough grit available, chickens seem to know how much grit they need to eat for themselves.

Good luck with your chooks!

Check this site for lots more info and tips on keeping chickens.

http://www.henkeeping.co.uk

Answer 4

Yes, the chickens need to be in a safe place so Raccoons, Cotes, Fox, and flying preditors like Owls and Hawks dont eat/kill them.

Usuually, chickens if they have been in one area or in the coop for a while in a 2 week or so time, they will come back to that spot because they know they are safe. So all you need to do is shut the cage door.

I dont have a coop. I use to but not any longer. I only have one chicken now who I have had for a long time, she roosts in my garage at night. The back door is always open and she goes in and out when she wans. We have an empty area in the garage, there is a wooden rod that goes in the corner about 2 ft or so off the ground. And under them is newspaperer. This helps be an esy clean up. Or use straw which makes it smell better. And in the corner is a nesting box she lays eggs in thats good sixe and has straw/shavings in it. I keep the feed/water outside in the grass in the yard and bring it in at night.

They are to eat Chick Starter/Grower if they are under 2 months old. If they are older they are to eat scratch feed,\. This is at a local Tractor Supply Store.

If you have a fenced in yard, thats great. My neighbors dont mind them and dont care. The chickens will come back befor its complaetely dark. Like mine does. But it can be a fenced in yard thats great size adn stuff, that is fine but put them up at night.  

Answer 5

Yes mine  go in their coop at night and then i shut the doors, so that predators dont get to them, and so i dont lose them.  Usually i just put a handful of grit in my chickens feed, and thats plenty.  Just mix it in with the food and thats good enough.  

Answer 6

Chickens are virtually blind at night, so any predator intent on eating them will make quick work of it in the dark.  Also, many predators are nocturnal, including owls, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, weasels and mink - so your birds have many more dangers at night than during the day.  I have alot of bantams and broody hens right now, so I am very careful to close barn doors at night.  They do need ventilation, though, so windows covered in raccoon-proof hardware mesh can give them plenty of fresh air while keeping predators out.

Although my flock free ranges in good weather, I do allow them free access to grit (use a starter grit for chicks or bantams, as the crushed granite is smaller pieces that's an appropriate size for small birds).  I put their grit and crushed oyster shells in a separate feeder from their actual feed.  They know where it is and can pick and choose what they need.  Most of my birds know to wander into the driveway and will pick up small rocks from there as well.  Grit is necessary to help your birds digest their food.

Hope this helps!

Answer 7

you shut the chickens in to stop foxes and anything else getting them and also so they can sleep there safely. don't know about the grit

Answer 8

so cats or wild animals dont get them

Answer 9

Hi Nigel,

you should keep your chickens inside the chicken coop at night because of predators.  Some predators that will come after your chickens are foxes, coyotes, rats, raccoons and hawks.  Your chicken coop plans should have had safety from predators in mind so hopefully your chicken coop is secure.

See http://www.chickencoopplansblog.com/chic... for an interesting story on coyote attacks in suburbia.

I agree, I use about 1/2 scoop of grit to every 10 to 15 scoops of feed but it will also depend on chicken breeds.

Answer 10

Whenever I get new chicknes,I keep them penned up in my henhouse which has 2 doors for a minimum of 3 days.  This helps them to realize where they are to go when it is time for roosting and to lay their eggs.

One door is regular size that I use to go in to gather eggs.  This doorway also has a screen door so that I can let air breeze through during the summer yet keep the chickens from getting loose.

  The second door is only about 18 inches by 18 inches that the chickens use to come and go but I can close it up during bad weather.

  The only time I close up my henhouse at night is when I am concerned about new predators hanging around or during bad weather.  Then I will close both doors.

   When weather is good and I'm not overly concerned about predators,I always leave the small door open so that the birds can come and go as they please.

  To answer your question. . . .NO you don't have to shut the chickens up at night but if you are concerned about predators I would certainly shut them up at night.

   Tiny pea gravel works just as well as grit.  Grit or tiny pea gravel is good in helping the chicken's gizzard grind the food they eat.

    I feed my chickens a mixture of Scratch (mixed grains),Layer Krumbles and Oyster Shell (helps strengthen the shell).   Because the oyster shell is course I don't feel the need to buy grit and because my chickens are allowed to roam in a large pen and do alot of scratching and pecking of the ground I am sure they are picking up gravel all by themselves.

    If you want to feed grit I don't think there would be a certain amount to feed or not to feed,just simply keep a couple of cups of it available in a pan for them and they will take it as they feel they need it.

Good Luck,hope I was able to help.