Do I have to hang up the feeder and waterer?

[maisyandtall]

Trying to work out if there is some specific need that is served by hanging them or if they are perfectly okay sitting on the ground?

Thanks!

 

[Opa]

Hanging at a height that is higher than their tails can help prevent droppings falling into them.

 

[Kittymomma]

It will help to keep them clean like Opa said. Also I've found that they get clogged with shavings and more feed gets scratched out and wasted when the feeder is on the ground.

 

[mdbokc]

Just set them up on bricks, wood scrap or something so the lip of the feeder/waterer is the the same height as their backs. Minimizes waste of feed and helps keep the waterer clean.

 

[txchickie]

You don't *have* to hang them, but it's easier for you to manage if they aren't directly on the ground. I have mine sitting on big cement pavers about 4" off the ground.

 

[Akane]

I set mine on bricks or on those pans sold for rabbit cages. Like this:

Then I just throw treats (in the pic they are eating the leftover pulp from homemade grape juice), grit, oyster shell, etc... on the pan around the feeders and waterers. When a feeder or waterer gets empty I also dump the pan. It might not work in a coop with lots of big chickens but it's great for my bantams and worked when I only had a few standards.