Chickens barely get out of the coop

[Farmgirl1878]

I have the galvanized metal waterers set up on blocks (and the heated base right now too). Here’s a pic of the one in the run - the setup is the same inside the coop but I’ve got a lap full of birds right now so don’t want to get up to take a pic inside.

My whole setup is sand, inside and out. So it doesn’t matter if they get water on the floor inside the coop, it’s treated with water sealer and there’s a pond liner under the sand.

The chow is just in a rubber bowl. The feeders inside the run are Grandpa’s Feeders to keep the mice a little less well fed.

If you have anything other than sand inside your coop, you definitely don’t want it to get wet. A nipple waterer with cups might work. Jumping out of bed and running out to open the door at daybreak would be a lot less expensive and messy tho. If you have a secure run, that shouldn’t be a problem. If the pop door is open, the Flockers will head out into the run whenever they feel like it.

If you do decide to invest in an automatic door opener, I highly recommend the Pullet Shut door. They’re reasonably priced, very reliable, and easy to install. Plus, you can run them on a solar cell so you don’t have to have power in the coop!

 

[SourRoses]

IMO 8-9 am is fine.
We are not in any hurry to let ours out in the morning and they do just fine.
In nature birds don't have water available all the time. In domestic keeping we provide dry feed so water should always be available when food is available.
And solely for necessary hydration (like if they were eating moist food such as forage and bugs) they would probably need to drink just twice a day.
Hens put a lot of water into high production of eggs, if they get dehydrated they go out of lay. So in a sense, regular laying is a hydration metric. But mine lay fine on a more relaxed schedule. They have plenty of hours in the day to eat and drink and be merry.

I've met a lot of farmers (especially in the horse world) who have very strict ideas about when things need to happen, and believe animals have clocks in their heads. Which maybe they do, but they only know the times people program into them, and I seriously doubt their minute hands are very precise.
But really, it seems like people feel a lot of time-guilt, and then project judgement into animals eyeballs, whinnies, pre-egg-whines, etc.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome to the forum! Glad you joined. Many decades ago I worked for three months in the Cadiz area. I really enjoyed your country and especially the people.

IMO 8-9 am is fine.
We are not in any hurry to let ours out in the morning and they do just fine.
In nature birds don't have water available all the time. In domestic keeping we provide dry feed so water should always be available when food is available.
And solely for necessary hydration (like if they were eating moist food such as forage and bugs) the would probably need to drink just twice a day.
Hens put a lot of water into high production of eggs, if they get dehydrated they go out of lay. So in a sense, regular laying is a hydration metric. But mine lay fine on a more relaxed schedule. They have plenty of hours in the day to eat and drink and be merry.

I've met a lot of farmers (especially in the horse world) who have very strict ideas about when things need to happen, and believe animals have clocks in their heads. Which maybe they do, but they only know the times people program into them, and I seriously doubt their minute hands are very precise.
But really, it seems like people feel a lot of time-guilt, and then project judgement into animals eyeballs, whinnies, pre-egg-whines, etc.

Good post

There are places in the world where it stays dark for 14 or 16 hours during winter. If you do not provide artificial lights they sleep that long without eating or drinking. Going without food or water that long does not hurt them or the wild birds that live there.

Some people feed and/or water only in the coop. Some feed and/or water only in the run. Some feed and/or water in both. We all have our own reasons for what we do. Some feel so strongly about their way being the only right way that they consider anything else to be abuse. I don't, we all need to find what works for us.

they barely get out of the coop. I moved their food and water out of the coop, and they get out to eat and drink, and go right back in.

That is pretty standard. They will get bolder as they settle in.

 

[cesargtapia]

Wow, I wasn't expecting so many useful answers this fast! This is an awesome forum

I think I have a more clear picture. I'll try not having water in the coop, at least for a few days, and put some fruit and veggies instead. I'll also keep them locked up for as few hours as possible.

If I see that they're too thirsty in the morning, I'll buy some nipple waterers.

Thank you very much, everyone!

 

[Farmgirl1878]

Wow, I wasn't expecting so many useful answers this fast! This is an awesome forum

I think I have a more clear picture. I'll try not having water in the coop, at least for a few days, and put some fruit and veggies instead. I'll also keep them locked up for as few hours as possible.

If I see that they're too thirsty in the morning, I'll buy some nipple waterers.

Thank you very much, everyone!

You could also put some wet chow in a heated dog bowl for them. I mix hot water with their regular food and they think it’s a real treat!

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

IMO 8-9 am is fine.
We are not in any hurry to let ours out in the morning and they do just fine.
In nature birds don't have water available all the time. In domestic keeping we provide dry feed so water should always be available when food is available.

Actually in nature, they usually do. Avid birder here.

There's a reason wild birds will hit a feeder hard first thing in the morning, and then taper off during the day and come back later in the day to stock up for the evening. But there are other reasons for that also. Totally agree that hydration is more important when solely dry feeding.

I've met a lot of farmers (especially in the horse world) who have very strict ideas about when things need to happen, and believe animals have clocks in their heads. Which maybe they do, but they only know the times people program into them, and I seriously doubt their minute hands are very precise.
But really, it seems like people feel a lot of time-guilt, and then project judgement into animals eyeballs, whinnies, pre-egg-whines, etc.

Haha this made me giggle and you are so right! I think we often project our own ideas, fears, feelings into our animals. They'd likely rather we leave them alone to do their own thing. My hens only start fussing to be let out into the field after I've fully trained them to expect me. Well said!

 

[Mrs. K]

Really, if the birds are staying alive, they are doing fine. A lot of water depends on temperature. In cold weather, mine get water once a day, and they seem to be fine, in hot weather, I am much more strict about it, making sure that there is always water available all the daylight hours. Maybe I don't have optimum egg production that I would with warm water at the coop/run, but I don't have electricity there either.

I do think they need fresh water every day, and fresh food, but not 24/7. I take my daily feed ration and water down each day, if there is a lot left over, I feed less the next day. If it is completely bare, I add a little more. Limiting the food like this I think decreases rodents.

There are as many ways to keep chickens as there are chicken keepers. A lot of them think their way is best, and it might work for you. Do you best and adjust.

Mrs K

 

[BDutch]

You could also put some wet chow in a heated dog bowl for them. I mix hot water with their regular food and they think it’s a real treat!

It rarely freezes in Spain. Cold water is fine to make a mash.

I use one rabbit drinking bottle that was rather cheap, but the chickens drink better from it than the bottle with the chicken nipple.

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

If I see that they're too thirsty in the morning, I'll buy some nipple waterers.

Or you can make them! All you need are the nipples, a food safe 5-gallon bucket with a lid, and a way to drill the holes. All together will cost you less than $10 if you already own the drill and drill bit.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I don't want to bring the water into the coop, because they spill it and make a mess with the bedding, but I'm not sure if it's ok to keep them without water for 13-14 hours (around here sun goes down at 7pm, and I open the coop door around 8am-9am).

I know you've gotten differing opinions with water, but I'll weigh in with mine too.

I don't put water in the coop as I want it to remain dry. My birds go to bed as early as 4:30 in the winter and then don't get let out via auto door until 7:45 AM regardless of winter or summer. No one has ever suffered from not having water during those hours and they don't run to the waterer and drink like they're dying - they're used to the schedule. Chicks get fully moved into the coop at around 5-6 weeks of age and even from that age they're fine without water access until 7:45 AM. So long story short - your birds are fine as long as they're willing to step outside to eat and drink during daylight hours.

As far as their shyness, that can be pretty normal since they're newly arrived. Unless you have one really bold chicken to sort of encourage the others to go out, they're more comfortable being in hiding right now.