New life new chickens

Hi all
Just want to introduce myself I'm Tim and have got a four chickens two young and two older adopted girls.
I've got them in the garden in there own run with plenty of room to scratch around.so far as far as I can see one older girl is malting and her counterpart is sorting out the pecking order with the younger one. All seems well and getting three eggs a day in just over a week of getting them.
I only have a couple of questions which are
1. Is ok to let them feed all day with a feeder and throwing various foods around and racking seeds into leaf mulch which is all over there run floor.
2. Also I shut them out of there coup during the main of the day due to the young ones seem to be hiding away from the older ones but they seem ok and getting on well now, They do have cover from bad weather and they do lays eggs on the floor so do I need to allow them access to get into cover during a downpour and there boxes to lay eggs.
Thank you for your replies.

Hello Tim and ! Glad to have you here!

In my short time as a member of BYC I understand that chickens will not overeat if allowed constant access to their food. Allowing them constant access to their food will allow them to eat when they naturally are hungry.

In my location, I like to leave access to the coop for my chickens to get back in there for whatever reason they see fit. Whether escaping a predator, getting a drink of water or a bite to eat, or just having a rest, I like to let them come and go as they please. Unless you're seeing real problems with the older chickens picking on the youngsters (and I am inferring that you have had them together for some time already) you can leave them to establish and maintain their pecking order. If you see that one or both of your youngsters are really stressed or even showing evidence of wounds, you can keep the little ones within sight but separated from the older ones to protect them from further injury.

Hope this has helped a little and hope to see you more within the BYC Community!

Welcome to BYC!

Hello!

Welcome to BYC and the coop! There's a lot of great peeps here! Feel free to ask lots of questions. But most of all, make yourself at home. I'm so glad you decided to joined the BYC family. I look forward to seeing you around BYC.

Welcome to Backyard chickens. I think it is good to have feed and water inside the coop. Otherwise you will be feeding the neighborhood sparrows and squirrels. Also food thrown out in the coop and not consumed will attract mice and rats - not a good thing.

Welcome to the BYC flock! We are glad you joined us!

Hi Tim,

I'd leave the coop door open so they can get inside for whatever they need (shelter, food, water, nesting box, etc.). If they are laying eggs on the floor, you can encourage them to lay their eggs in a nesting box by putting plastic eggs or golf ball in the box...that will give them the idea that's a safe place to lay.

If you're having trouble with the little ones being chased away from food or water, put out another feeder and waterer to make sure everyone has access to what they need. I keep my feeders full all the time so they have food whenever they need it, I've never had a problem with them overeating.

Good luck to you. Thanks for joining us!