Set the alarm clock for 6:08 am

How to use the online alarm clock

Before handing over the morning round, set the 6:08 am alarm so the next person knows when to let the chickens out after sunrise. That leaves enough of the early shift for a clear handover before 7:00 am, including which gate to use and whether the run has already been checked.

Farmyard sounds can easily drown a browser alarm, especially through a closed window or from a phone left in another room. Choose a clearly audible volume, test the signal from where the handover will happen, and avoid relying on vibration alone. If the browser is closed or the phone goes to sleep, no alarm will sound to prompt the chickens’ release, so keep the page active and the phone awake until 6:08 am.

Once the birds are safely outside and responsibility has changed hands, protect any sleep that remains by preparing the return indoors beforehand. Leave boots, keys and a torch by the door, keep curtains drawn, and silence unnecessary notifications. At this early hour, a short, settled route back to bed is less disruptive than switching on bright lights or starting another household task.