food and water in winter?

[cwenbass]

it s getting cold here in NJ and I m concerned about where to feed my chicks. Do I keep food in coop or out in run? Also, any suggestions for keeping water from freezing? Last one. Water in or out of coop?

 

[sunflour]

With the temps you get, I think food and water in the coop would be better - assuming your coop is large enough to do so and not be under their roosts.

 

[cafarmgirl]

It's always best to protect feed from weather/dampness as much as possible. But what your coop is like has a lot to do with it as well. If it's small and dark they are not going to be very inclined to go in there much during the day, even to eat. If it's large enough to keep the feeder/water in there and gets plenty of natural light then by all means, keep the feed inside.

 

[Ila88]

My question is, do chickens need water at night while they are roosting? Now that it is darker they spend a lot of time sleeping and I always let them out at dawn, but I wonder if they wake up at night and need water.

 

[cafarmgirl]

No, chickens do not get off the roost at night to eat/drink.