diff --git a/internal/beads/beads_channel.go b/internal/beads/beads_channel.go
index a7c56175..f9f24560 100644
--- a/internal/beads/beads_channel.go
+++ b/internal/beads/beads_channel.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 )
 
 // ChannelFields holds structured fields for channel beads.
@@ -146,6 +147,7 @@ func (b *Beads) CreateChannelBead(name string, subscribers []string, createdBy s
 		Subscribers: subscribers,
 		Status:      ChannelStatusActive,
 		CreatedBy:   createdBy,
+		CreatedAt:   time.Now().Format(time.RFC3339),
 	}
 
 	description := FormatChannelDescription(title, fields)
diff --git a/internal/beads/beads_group.go b/internal/beads/beads_group.go
index 5c2213ff..ed1a80db 100644
--- a/internal/beads/beads_group.go
+++ b/internal/beads/beads_group.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 )
 
 // GroupFields holds structured fields for group beads.
@@ -114,6 +115,7 @@ func (b *Beads) CreateGroupBead(name string, members []string, createdBy string)
 		Name:      name,
 		Members:   members,
 		CreatedBy: createdBy,
+		CreatedAt: time.Now().Format(time.RFC3339),
 	}
 
 	description := FormatGroupDescription(title, fields)
diff --git a/internal/mail/router.go b/internal/mail/router.go
index 28509899..c5d1bedd 100644
--- a/internal/mail/router.go
+++ b/internal/mail/router.go
@@ -829,6 +829,9 @@ func (r *Router) sendToChannel(msg *Message) error {
 	if fields == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("channel not found: %s", channelName)
 	}
+	if fields.Status == beads.ChannelStatusClosed {
+		return fmt.Errorf("channel %s is closed", channelName)
+	}
 
 	// Build labels for from/thread/reply-to/cc plus channel metadata
 	var labels []string