When to Let Chickens Out of Coop in Morning? Chicken Farming Tips of 2023

You may be wondering what is the best time to let your free-range chickens out of their coops in the morning. You are in the right place! Read on for your answer and also for other
important tips for your chicken farming routine.

When to Let Chickens Out of Coop in Morning?

The best time to let your chickens out is early in the morning, at sunrise as soon as the sun is fully up.
However, it is best to feed them first and let them out when they seem to have finished laying. If you let them out before, there are chances that young hens will make nests in the brush and lay their eggs. This will lead to the loss of eggs and also increase the threat of predators.

Although, it is best to let your chickens early in the morning, make sure that it is not too early. Chickens cannot see well in the dark, so if you let them out at dawn, you could be harming the chickens and also leaving them vulnerable to predators.

Construct a Good Chicken Keeping Routine!

Having a strict routine will help immensely in chicken farming. Chickens are very routine-oriented. They will try to stick to the routine you set, and hence make your tasks very easy for you.

Try to let out your chickens from the coop at the same time every day so that they get used to the routine. But make sure you do this after the young hens have laid their eggs. You wouldn’t have to worry about the older hens because they will already know where they should be laid.

Letting the chickens out at sunrise is best for them so that they can make the best use of the early morning sun. don’t shoo your chickens out. Leave the door open at sunrise so that they know it’s time to come out.

Feed your chickens first thing in the morning. Make sure you measure out the feed accurately because chickens like other animals don’t overeat. Each hen usually eats only what she needs. A hen would eat approximately half a cup of feed per day.

Make sure that they have plenty of clean water to drink throughout the day. Free-range chickens get thirsty easily, so keep the water stocked. Have more than one water source for your chickens so that they always have a reserve if one gets dirty.

Your next job, after the chickens have left the coop is to collect your eggs. It is best to collect eggs early in the morning to prevent them from going stale, breaking, or getting infected through tiny cracks.
Chickenkeeping is not too demanding on your time and energy. Normally, your chickens would come back to the coops before dusk. If you think their forage is insufficient, then you can consider feeding them before you shut the coop doors.

Your daily routine can be made even easier by digitalizing everything! Read this for more information.

What time do chickens wake up?

You might be worried about what time your chickens actually wake up and if you should be letting them out sooner or later. Typically, chickens wake up at sunrise between 4:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. depending on the season.

Chickens wake up very early in the morning, which is why you will hear the rooster’s crow at the first sign of dawn. As soon as the hens wake up, they begin their day by eating breakfast and laying eggs.

Chickens are very sensitive to light. This is why they wake up at sunrise. Marinating a healthy internal clock is essential for healthy egg production in hens. This is why you must allow them to follow the natural routine as much as possible, as opposed to the artificial lighting in factory farms.

Hens have to be exposed to at least 14 hours of daylight in order to be able to lay eggs. This is why, most often, egg production falls in the winter and peaks in the spring and summer.

Can you keep our chickens cooped up and not let them out at all?

If you are raising free-range chicken breeds, then no! Unless you have no outdoor space and only have coops designed to raise broiler chickens, you can’t keep chickens cooped up inside all day.

Chickens need at least 2-3 square feet of space per chicken, but even this would be insufficient for them at the time. Chickens need to be let out to be able to let out to be able to follow their natural instincts of foraging, dust bathing, and brooding.

Keeping them cooped up all day will increase boredom and lead to negative qualities like aggressiveness and cannibalism. Chickens need to be kept busy with dry leaves, twigs, and forage.

However, if your area is prone to predators like foxes, snakes, or eagles and you don’t have adequate fencing for protection, then it’s best to keep them indoors. Make sure that your chickens have plenty of space inside the coup to spread their wings, perches, and windows for ventilation.

When to let chickens out of coop in morning? Summary

The best time to let your chickens out is at sunrise, but make sure that it’s fully light outside. Many predators like foxes hunt at dawn and dusk and hens have poor eyesight in the dark. So letting them out too early will put them at risk.

Also read: Do chickens get sad when another chicken dies?
*All pics are courtesy of Unsplash.com