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where does the food go?

post #1 of 16
Thread Starter 

i know this is an odd question --- but i was reading the "Annoyed" thread and realized that if you lock chicks up in a coop for 2-3 days or weeks -- their food would need to be in the coop with them.

i have been working under the assumption that their food and water would be in the fenced in run.

.... so ... where does the food go, in the fenced in covered run - or inside the chicken coop?

caf

1 RIR - 1 BO - 1 white silkie
in the market for:
dominques -- barred plymouth rocks --
love and understanding (but i know those last 2 items are in short supply)
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1 RIR - 1 BO - 1 white silkie
in the market for:
dominques -- barred plymouth rocks --
love and understanding (but i know those last 2 items are in short supply)
Reply
post #2 of 16

Every situation is different.  I've got a small coop (check out my BYC page for pics of it).  At my house, food goes under the coop, not in it.

post #3 of 16
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JennsPeeps 

Every situation is different.  I've got a small coop (check out my BYC page for pics of it).  At my house, food goes under the coop, not in it.


nice ...  very similar to what i am doing

1 RIR - 1 BO - 1 white silkie
in the market for:
dominques -- barred plymouth rocks --
love and understanding (but i know those last 2 items are in short supply)
Reply
1 RIR - 1 BO - 1 white silkie
in the market for:
dominques -- barred plymouth rocks --
love and understanding (but i know those last 2 items are in short supply)
Reply
post #4 of 16

Mine have access to the run at all times so I leave food and water in the run.  That way it isn't taking up valuable space in the coops.

If I were going to Lock them up inside the coop for days then I would put food and water inside for them.

A wonderful DH who puts up with my addiction, 2 beautiful children, 1 labrador retriever, And 40 standard chickens of various ages   


People who count their chickens before they are hatched, act very wisely, because chickens run about so absurdly that it is impossible to count them accurately Oscar Wilde
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A wonderful DH who puts up with my addiction, 2 beautiful children, 1 labrador retriever, And 40 standard chickens of various ages   


People who count their chickens before they are hatched, act very wisely, because chickens run about so absurdly that it is impossible to count them accurately Oscar Wilde
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post #5 of 16

What about if they're in the run during the day, but locked up at night? Can I just keep a small waterer in the coop and leave the bigger one and feeder out in the run?

The run will be partially covered.

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. . . . .
it's about learning to dance in the rain!
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Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. . . . .
it's about learning to dance in the rain!
Reply
post #6 of 16

I leave their food and water in the coop.  The coop is open all day, and they come and go as they please to get water or food.  I also throw scratch on the run for them to peck and play with.  At night the coop is locked up.  I had thought about placing food and water out in the run as well.  But, it doesn't seem to be necessary since they'll go in for water when they want it.

Todd

It's a ZOO around here! 1 Silkie roo, 1 Wellsummer hen, 3 Golden Comets, 3 White Rocks, 1 Mallard, 1 Black Swede, 2 Pekins, 2 Rouens, 3 dogs, 9 exotic birds(parrots and cannaries), fish, hermit crabs....   OH MY!!!
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It's a ZOO around here! 1 Silkie roo, 1 Wellsummer hen, 3 Golden Comets, 3 White Rocks, 1 Mallard, 1 Black Swede, 2 Pekins, 2 Rouens, 3 dogs, 9 exotic birds(parrots and cannaries), fish, hermit crabs....   OH MY!!!
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post #7 of 16

Mine have access to the run 24/7. We have a feeder haning under the coop and water in the run. Since I have small chicks in there, we placed a feeder on the wall of the coop and a small water thing in the coop. Once they are bigger the water in the coop will go.

I would *think* if they are locked in the coop overnight, you may want to put water in there.

post #8 of 16

I will have the food and water in the run. A small waterer in the coop, I don't know if they get thirsty at night. I know I do, lol. But the food outside, more space and less mess in the coop.

Cheri

2 grown daughters, and dear sweet enabling husband, retired Navy, and now dear FIL, retired Navy Captain. Oh yeah, chickens galore, 3 horses and a donkey.
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2 grown daughters, and dear sweet enabling husband, retired Navy, and now dear FIL, retired Navy Captain. Oh yeah, chickens galore, 3 horses and a donkey.
Reply
post #9 of 16

My coops are small, so the food is in their covered runs. 

My chicks have a light at night still, so they have food in both their run and coop.  Once the light is gone, though, no more midnight snacks for them.  Their food will strictly be in their run at that point.

1  DH, 2 teen DS, 1 lab/chessie mix, 1 stubborn beagle, 2 cats, 8 standards, 2 cochin, I lost count of how many silkies (evil creatures just keep hatching out more) and 6 ducks.
Warning, I'm a Fixer:  If you ask for advice you are liable to get it, bluntly.  But, it's always kindly meant or I keep my mouth firmly shut.
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1  DH, 2 teen DS, 1 lab/chessie mix, 1 stubborn beagle, 2 cats, 8 standards, 2 cochin, I lost count of how many silkies (evil creatures just keep hatching out more) and 6 ducks.
Warning, I'm a Fixer:  If you ask for advice you are liable to get it, bluntly.  But, it's always kindly meant or I keep my mouth firmly shut.
Reply
post #10 of 16

If they have full time access (at least daylight hours access) to the run...

AND you can put the feed under cover of some type to keep it dry

then I'd put it in the run so you have more space available in the coop.

If you live somewhere where you'll need to coop up the hens when it's bitterly cold, OR they won't have daylight hours full time access to the run then put it in the coop.

I use a plastic 35lb auto dog feeder I bought at Tractor supply.  I took out the door that the dog would push open to get to the food and then I placed that under a small shelter I built to help keep the food dry.

I've had no problems at all with this setup keeping the food dry.
You can see my food setup in my webcam when it rotates thru to the chicken pen - look to the far left of the image and you'll see the feeder under it's shelter.

-S

Arlee453 is Susan, mom to  (in no particular order...) 4 humans, a big-ole bunch of chickens, chicks, etc, 7 dogs, 3 cats, parakeets, peafowl, a few ducks and 1 neglected husband...
Visit my blog/webcam webpage:
Chick-N-Cam:  http://arlee453.camstreams.com/
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Arlee453 is Susan, mom to  (in no particular order...) 4 humans, a big-ole bunch of chickens, chicks, etc, 7 dogs, 3 cats, parakeets, peafowl, a few ducks and 1 neglected husband...
Visit my blog/webcam webpage:
Chick-N-Cam:  http://arlee453.camstreams.com/
Reply
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