chickens stopped laying

[WTA]

I went out and bought a digital timer last night and put it in there on the lamp. I set it for 7AM to 8:30 PM. That should not be too long I thought. The sun is just coming up around 7 so it shouldn't startle them. I only have a 60 watt bulb too. Hopefully it's not too much.
I'm still amazed at how warm it is in there. Last night it was about 38 deg when I went in and it was almost 60 degrees in the coop. Them birds really throw out the heat. I have the exhaust fan set to come on at 70 so I'm not really worried about it.
It's about 130 square feet in there with a nice run outside for about 40 hens.

Do you all think I should just let them run loose with the roosters for the winter or keep them put up? The roosters have all been out following the horses around and cleaning up after them. They roost in the trees at night and a couple sleep on the ground with our goats in their pen.
We've got a lot of predators around here like badgers and coyotes that come sneaking around at night but the dogs very often leave me a little surprise on the doorstep when something unwanted crosses the property line after dark.
They left another possum for me this morning.

 

[randy41]

sounds risky to let them run loose. if you can get them to go into the coop at night and then close them up you should be ok. they might just do that on their own.

 

[WTA]

Not all of them go in. The bantams all prefer the trees. It took us almost a week just to get all of them caught and in the barn. We were out climbing the trees after them in the dark. That was not fun. Maybe after spending a winter in the coop they will be more inclined to return to it when it gets dark.

 

[Soundguy]

We have to keep ours in chain link dog kennels ( big walk in kind ) due to rccoon and possums..

soundguy

 

[WTA]

If you aren't in a place where you can shoot a paintball gun comes in real handy for them critters. Speer 45 and 38 cal plastic target bullets do to.
We always keep a havaheart trap out in the chicken yard but mostly just get stray cats in it. The dogs take care of the badgers and coyotes. Them badgers are mean though. My weimerriner got his nose all cut up last year by one. He won the fight though when the other 2 dogs decided to help out.

 

[Soundguy]

I also have the havaheart trap.. and a dead on accurate 22lr ( raccoonslayer)..

Soundguy

 

[Egon]

Put some food in the coop just before evening.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

If you aren't in a place where you can shoot a paintball gun comes in real handy for them critters. Speer 45 and 38 cal plastic target bullets do to.
We always keep a havaheart trap out in the chicken yard but mostly just get stray cats in it. The dogs take care of the badgers and coyotes. Them badgers are mean though. My weimerriner got his nose all cut up last year by one. He won the fight though when the other 2 dogs decided to help out.

My ex had a great dog she got from the Amish. He would kill woodchucks on a regular basis and I don't ever recall him getting hurt. The woodchucks are tuff little guys when you get between them and their hole. Not as tuff as badgers but still. I miss that dog but he sure was stupid at times. Jumped out of the back of my truck as I was turning at an intersection. I noticed he jumped out as he was rolling by my driverside door He was loyal though. I wish I could have a dog here as the predators keep going after our ducks and chickens. But if we leave a dog running loose here he will be hit on Rt. 20. No one has dogs on this road unless they are chained up and that is no way to keep a dog.