I use the deep litter method, that is what I have done from the start. As far as the feed and water is concerned the feed I have suspended in the coop and the water I have outside so that that the birds don't dirty it up.
let me think.....dirt. case in point I too have given that much to my chickens and within six months it is all dirt. I do let them free range yet because of the variety of hens I have there are some who get out and forage for food yet others are home bodies.
Sorry for your loss.
I had lost some chickens like you they were without a trace, I thought it was a fox. Were I have my chicken is in a old trailer I converted into a hen house. What I did was to close the door and remove the window so the chickens to fly out of the trailer window and get...
Welcome, I hope that you will find the information and the support that you need. I have had to do alot of reading and trial and error this my second year into chickens they can be fun.