My whole flock got out when the wind blew the coop door open this morning.

I was making coffee around 7 AM in my kitchen in Phoenix when I saw a blur of feathers past the window. The latch on my homemade coop door wasn't strong enough and a gust popped it right open. I spent the next hour herding eight very confused hens back inside with a bucket of scratch grain. What's the best way to secure a lightweight coop door against strong winds?

2 comments

2 Comments

troyjackson1mo ago

Yeah, a simple slide bolt is way better than a latch for wind. You can add a second one at the bottom of the door for a double lock, which really helps when those desert gusts kick up. That setup has never failed me, even during our monsoon season.

amygonzalez1mo ago

Totally agree on the double bolt setup. Had a similar issue with my back door rattling like crazy in storms. Ended up using a heavy duty slide bolt at the top and a flip lock near the floor. The door doesn't budge an inch now, even when the wind tries to rip it off the frame.