Coop question food and water inside and out??? WNC

[tshowell]

We are in the process of finishing our new coop and this our first time at having chickens. I have been reading for weeks and LOVE this forum. My question is: do you need to put food and water inside the coop as well as outside in the run? Or water in coop only? I'm very confused. I have been searching and have not found a definite answer. We plan on having 3 buffs and 3 red sex-link, 4 months old. Coop is 4 X 8 and run is 10 X 10. I would appreciate any help I can get.

 

[asher]

Hey and welcome! I'm (sort of) a neighbor in the foothills.

I prefer to keep the food and water in the barn or coop. That way it's accesible at all times. It can get so hot here, I especially like the water in there just in case and the food...well, my run isn't covered and it getting wet would be a waste of food.

Really it's just a personal preference, though, I think.

 

[Chirpy]

I keep my food and a waterer inside the hen house and an extra waterer outside in the run.

Having food outside can invite unwanted guests (mice among others).

If you have room inside that's what I would suggest.

 

[Chic-n-farmer]

I have a 12x12 chicken house with a gravity feeder and a 3 gallon waterer.

The run is about 4000 square feet and I have a weather protected gravity feeder and a 5 gallon waterer in it.

I like to keep it this way so an agressive or dominating bird can't guard them both!

Can't be in two places at once!

And by the way, you can make a weather protected feeder by placing the top of a child's turtle sandbox over a regular feeder.

 

[Anny]

I like to keep it all inside the coop. It keep the water cooler the food drier, and it keeps wild birds and critters from getting a free snack.

 

[Jenski]

I keep one feeder and waterer outside beneath the (elevated) coop, and a smaller feeder and waterer inside. This ensures my less dominant girl has access to food and water if the others run her off.

 

[gumpsgirl]

I also keep my feeder inside the coop and a water inside and outside as well.

!!!

 

[tshowell]

Thanks so much everyone! I appreciate all the good advice! I think I will keep the food and water inside with one outside just in case.