Can this marriage be saved?

[One Lucky Momma]

In a few days our nearly 6 week old chicks will be moving out of the house and into a coop/run arrangement with a large area of green forage.
My husband and I had decided not to provide feed or water in the coop for many reasons. Now, having hand raised these precious babies, I’ve decided there should be water available in the coop. My husband does not agree. Strongly.

What if the pop door doesn’t pop? What if we don’t get down to the coop early to let them out? How long can a chicken go without water?

Our coop is not air conditioned. We use nipple waterers so dripping is minimal. For bedding we’re starting with pine shavings but may switch to sand sometime in the future.

I think he’s just being stubborn because it wasn’t his idea. I, on the other hand, will listen to reason if someone out there can convince me I shouldn’t have these concerns. I know there’s a slight chance of differing opinions and that’s good for the sake of my argument.

 

[svh]

I know there are many reasons to not put food and water into the coop, but IMO, they should ALWAYS have access to food, and water.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Friendly_Lurker]

Mine have food in the coop and water outside. They have an automatic door. I think the food at least needs to be inside, then it can't get wet. But having water inside would be very good, I once had about ten birds die from heat when they got stuck in the coop once without water.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I have feed and water in my well ventilated coops 24/7. My coops are rodent proof when I close the pop door shortly after sunset. GC

 

[Mom 2em All]

i dont understand the reasoning for denying water. Please someone explain better to me, why wouldnt you provide water at all times?
I have food AND water in my coop, and water in my pen. I would never decide they couldnt have water whenever they wanted it.

 

[One Lucky Momma]

We’ve read a lot of differing opinions on this. I believe there is something of a consensus among those who ban water and feed from the coop that having those things outside the coop encourages the birds not to hang out in there during the day when they should be outside. Reduces poop in the coop. That, and as a previous post mentioned, there can be an issue with rodents if the coop isn’t tight. I get that, and am generally fine with leaving food outside the coop but I do feel water should be available at all times. I’m not suggesting the coop waterer be the only source of water, just that it ought to be available.

Thanks, I appreciate your taking the time to support my cause!

 

[One Lucky Momma]

I have feed and water in my well ventilated coops 24/7. My coops are rodent proof when I close the pop door shortly after sunset. GC

Thank you. Ours is a tight coop, I’m not positive yet that it’s totally rodent proof but we’ve taken great care to address the issue. I wonder if you feel your manure reserves are greater with this arrangement. Have you always done it this way?
Many thanks for your time and expertise.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I can see it either way, and that's because everyone's set up and needs are different, and what works for one person won't work for another.

I have water in run only, because I want to make sure my coop stays bone dry. My auto door is set for 7:45, I'm usually up around 8:30 or so. So even if the door doesn't open (which it has glitched out once before) my chickens aren't so parched that they're in any danger. But that said, we rarely get over mid-90s here, and certainly not in the early morning. If I lived in a hot or arid climate, that'd be a different ball game.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I wonder if you feel your manure reserves are greater with this arrangement. Have you always done it this way?
Many thanks for your time and expertise.

Even though feed and water is in both of my coops, the chickens don't stay in the coops during the day.
They are in the coop during the night roosting. So most of the poop in my coops are under the roost. Some people have poop boards under the roost, I do not.
My coops are small, 4'x 5' and 3'9"x 6'.
I clean out the shavings weekly or biweekly depending on how many hens are occupying the coop. When I had 5 and 7 in the the coops respectively, I cleaned weekly. At the moment I have 1 and 4 respectively and clean biweekly.
As soon as I turn on the lights and open the pop door at 5 am, they jump off the roosts and go to the feeder and waterer. Satisfy their hunger and thirst, then outside they go.
Some high production chickens (Sex-Links) may head to the nest boxes.
So unless they are eating, laying or roosting, they are outside.
Of course if the weather is severe, blizzard, rain with strong winds and or very cold, they may hangout in the coop.
However both of my coops are raised and inside of the pens and they will stay under the coop when raining.

. GC

 

[Ted_Harrell]

I have food and water in the run and the run is enclosed, the coop door stays open so they can go get water whenever they want. I have never used an automatic door so I can't speak to that but you and your husband will be there most of the time so......