Do chicken coop need water in it

[JacinLarkwell]

I leave my door to the coop open, but I also have enormous trust in the run being secure. If you trust the run, the door is fine. If the run is easy to breach, you'll have to fix it

 

[ButtonHoarder]

I was getting to the door part. If it's open, even a tiny crack, something will get in. Weasels can fit through very tiny spaces, and can kill a chicken. If nothing has gotten in yet, that doesn't mean it won't happen. At night when they are on the roosts, a weasel will climb up and grab a chicken. The chickens likely won't leave because it's night, and dark. I just recently lost a hen and suspect it was a weasel

 

[KCHenlover65]

You chickens need water "someplace" that they have access to during the day.

If you are asking if they need water in the coop, overnight, while they are sleeping, then no. They don't "need" water in the coop. But, some people prefer to have water in the coop overnight and others don't.

I have a bog waterer in the run and one of those 5gal buckets, with the cups that are supposed to automatically fill with water, inside the coop. However, they keep breaking off the cups on the coop waterer so its about to be thrown out. They seem fine with just the water in the run.

 

[Marshmallow1234]

I leave my door to the coop open, but I also have enormous trust in the run being secure. If you trust the run, the door is fine. If the run is easy to breach, you'll have to fix it

I’m pretty sure my run is secure but I just closed it cuz I didn’t want them to be cold

 

[Marshmallow1234]

I have a bog waterer in the run and one of those 5gal buckets, with the cups that are supposed to automatically fill with water, inside the coop. However, they keep breaking off the cups on the coop waterer so its about to be thrown out. They seem fine with just the water in the run.

You let them go into the run during night?

 

[cher2324]

The water question was already answered but the door part is really concerning me and I'm not sure why anybody else didn't address it. No, you can't leave the door a bit open. Predators are a serious issue, if you read through the forum you can find horror stories of people having a weasel squeezing through a small hole in chicken wiring or wherever in a coop and taking out entire flocks during the night. So, no, do not do this. If your issue is ventilation, figure out another way but don't just leave the door cracked. Best of luck.

I agree with all of the replies in this thread.
1. Water is necessary for chickens to keep proper body temperature all year long. It’s so important!
2. Security of run and coop are necessary as well. Make sure you are totally secure and check around your run’s perimeter every day. We have coyotes, fox, bobcats (God only knows what else). They’re always looking for a free and easy meal!
Therefore, look at temperatures in your area, security of your run/coop. This will determine where your water should be. If you close your coop door at night and they can’t access water in the morning, I would consider hanging water inside or using a plug in dog bowl ($15 at a local feed store, elevate it a little so that they don’t step in it) so that they have access whenever. I live in Mid-NY, Putnam area, and we get snow and low temperatures. My coop door is open if the temps are above 10 degrees. I have 16 chickens and they are nice and toasty at night. I don’t run a heat lamp. I always give my chickens access to water. In the winter I plug in a heated dog bowl by extension cord and on warmer days in the winter I also hang fresh in the run. I change the water every day and add some acv.
Keep your girls healthy and toasty! Good luck and find what works for you!

 

[KCHenlover65]

I always make an extra trip out to the coop to lock my babies up after sundown. I recently lost all 5 of my goats to coyotes and their pasture was right behind my coop. So now I'm too paranoid to leave it open, even though everyone has said my coop is fort chicken knox. Predators can be tenacious about getting to their food.

 

[cher2324]

I agree with all of the replies in this thread.
1. Water is necessary for chickens to keep proper body temperature all year long. It’s so important!
2. Security of run and coop are necessary as well. Make sure you are totally secure and check around your run’s perimeter every day. We have coyotes, fox, bobcats (God only knows what else). They’re always looking for a free and easy meal!
Therefore, look at temperatures in your area, security of your run/coop. This will determine where your water should be. If you close your coop door at night and they can’t access water in the morning, I would consider hanging water inside or using a plug in dog bowl ($15 at a local feed store, elevate it a little so that they don’t step in it) so that they have access whenever. I live in Mid-NY, Putnam area, and we get snow and low temperatures. My coop door is open if the temps are above 10 degrees. I have 16 chickens and they are nice and toasty at night. I don’t run a heat lamp. I always give my chickens access to water. In the winter I plug in a heated dog bowl by extension cord and on warmer days in the winter I also hang fresh in the run. I change the water every day and add some acv.
Keep your girls healthy and toasty! Good luck and find what works for you!
[/QUOTE

 

[CluckerFamily]

There is no need for the water in the coop.
I wouldn’t leave the door cracked.
I keep my coop “people” door closed but the coop “chicken” door that leads To the run is open all the time but my run is predator proof.

 

[cher2324]

I always make an extra trip out to the coop to lock my babies up after sundown. I recently lost all 5 of my goats to coyotes and their pasture was right behind my coop. So now I'm too paranoid to leave it open, even though everyone has said my coop is fort chicken knox. Predators can be tenacious about getting to their food.

I’m so sorry about your goats. That must’ve been terrible for you!