Coop Questions from a Newbie

[chickenmadness7]

1. Do you keep food and water in your coop when your birds are shut in at night?
2. Do you keep the coop door open during the day? If yes, do you keep food/water in the coop then also, or just outside?

 

[TaylorHobbyFarms]

We leave the food and water in the coop all the time, but we feed in the morning so that there isn't a lot left over at night. Feed at night can draw in mice. Thankfully, we also have two cats that keep peace with the chickens and love to hunt the mice.

We alternate leaving coop doors open during the day only (we have several), but when we do, we still leave the food and water inside. We don't feed as much on days when the chickens will be free ranging. Since they are accustomed to their coops, they go in on their own near dark and then we shut the door.

 

[chickenmadness7]

Yet another coop question...what time do you coop your chickens in the evenings?

 

[CityFarmer202]

around 7:00 PM usually. We leave water outside to help preserve bedding, but put it in at night, and feed them in the evening rather than the morning so they are usually waiting for food at 7. We do leave the door open so they have access to the nest boxes, though we also have nest boxes around the yard that we check so they don't lay just anywhere as much

 

[Percheron chick]

Chickens put themselves to bed at dusk so right now that's 830. It more like 400 around xmas.

 

[Julia62]

That was a question I was going to ask as well. Our coop doesn't have room for the hanging feeders we bought to hang outside the coop in the enclosed run (3 hens). Should we get small feeders for inside?

 

[poodlechicks]

I don't put food or water inside the coop, for my coop is very small. I have built a decent sized enclosure around the coop that has a gate. I keep food and water inside the enclosure and the gate opened all day. This way, the hens have access to their nesting boxes inside the coop and can hang out in the shade if it's too sunny outside or have shelter if it rains heavily. Also, I had them used to only eating inside the enclosure because it is covered, which helps keep hawks from sneaking up on them while they are eating. Their food and water aren't in plain sight of birds either. They will go in the coop by themselves at dusk. I close the coop, then remove the feed and the water, so not to attract mice. Chickens sleep all night if not disturbed, so they won't need feed and water with them inside the coop. The hens want out at sunrise, so I open the coop for them and place the feed and water back in the enclosure. They are so eager to free range that they barely look at the water and may have a bite or so of the feed. Hope this helps. Good luck with your chickens.

 

[poodlechicks]

This Christmas I'll have just one wish on my list: an automatic coop door!

 

[chickenmadness7]

A new newbie coop question! Do you keep your coop open during the day? I have my guinea meets outside in their enclosed run and coop now at 6 weeks of age. I've been keeping their coop door open during the day and they do go in and out but choose to mostly stay out. I have them trained to go in when I ring a bell at night. I appreciate the answers I've been given here and am funding that 7:30 works well for coop time in the evenings.

 

[poodlechicks]

I leave the coop open for my hens all day, so they can go in to lay their eggs and go in for the night. I then close the door and open it for them early in the morning.