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Do I need a feeder in each coop?

Discussion in 'Feeding & Watering Your Flock' started by blueberrychickens, Sep 21, 2012.

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  1. Sep 21, 2012 #1
    blueberrychickens

    blueberrychickens Chillin' With My Peeps

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    I have 1 flock but I have 2 coops with a shared run. One coop is 4x6, the other is 4x4. The 4x6 coop is the main coop & has nest boxes, 1 feeder, & 1 waterer. The 4x4 coop has a wall feeder(small) & waterer too & was only intended to be the brooder coop/ grow out coop, but the last set of babies have decided that they are going to live there 24/7. With so little space & the colder weather coming soon, I am trying to figure out placement of feeders. I would ideally like to have just 1 feeder in the main coop. Will the chickens who live in the little coop figure out that there is food in the big coop if there is no food in the little coop? Also will the little chickens lay their eggs in the nest boxes in the big coop? or will they insist on laying in the little coop, even with no nest boxes?
    There are 6 pullets & 1 roo in the little coop, there are 11 hens/pullets in the big coop. everyone gets along for the most part....the run is 30+' x 10', plenty of room to spread out
     
  3. Sep 21, 2012 #2
    CochinBrahmaLover

    CochinBrahmaLover Girl, I'm FABulous

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    Warm.... Under a blanket... In Alaska...
    Start closing the entrance of the little coop and kick out the last batch of babies. You shouldn't have to put 2 feeders in 2 coops. The last babies will have to learn that its warmer in the big coop, and thats where the food is. Also remember to have water in the coop.
    How cold is it in Maine?
    (MA is Maine, right?)
     
  5. Sep 22, 2012 #3
    blueberrychickens

    blueberrychickens Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Hudson, MA
    MA is Massachusetts, not to far from Maine!
    The problem is that they won't all fit in the bigger coop at night. I'm ok with them sleeping in the two coops, just trying to figure out the food placement. I also don't want to put the food outside either, so that isn't an option.
     
  7. Sep 22, 2012 #4
    JackE

    JackE Chillin' With My Peeps

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    With the number of birds you have, you need a bigger coop anyway. Can you take the two coops, and make a bigger single coop? Knock out a couple walls and put them together under a single roof.
    Jack
     
  9. Sep 22, 2012 #5
    7L Farm

    7L Farm Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Your coops are too small. When it gets cold they will be forced to stay in the coop & not having adequate space could cause some issues within your flocks. Birds need a lot of space it helps with pecking issues & health in general.
    I have an 80 sq ft coop & only house 10 chickens in it.
     
  11. Sep 22, 2012 #6
    Fuzzy Wunkles

    Fuzzy Wunkles The Critter Whisperer

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    Does anyone use baby pig waterers in their coops?

    They are not sold in my area, I would have to order online, but I need to know what the circumference of the opening to the water container is, because I would need to use a shorter water contanier (ie: wide mouth X-large mason jar). The one that comes with it is to tall for where I want to hang it.
    I have a 4X4 coop with 4 chickens. And need to hang the waterer and feeder on on the wall, so not to use up
    any floor space.

    Anyone have one of these?

    Lisa
    CT
     
  13. Sep 22, 2012 #7
    1muttsfan

    1muttsfan Overrun With Chickens

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    When winter comes and bad weather sets in, the birds that stay in the smaller coop should have food and water available so that they don't have to go out.
     
  15. Sep 22, 2012 #8
    blueberrychickens

    blueberrychickens Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Even on the coldest days, the chickens still go out into the run. Nothing seems to stop them from going out!! They are not phased by much, only deep deep snow slows them down! Guess I'll have to figure out some way to keep food in the little coop that won't be in their way.
    Thanks!
     
  17. Sep 22, 2012 #9
    blueberrychickens

    blueberrychickens Chillin' With My Peeps

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    I wish I could but they are on opposite ends of the run! I always told my DH that they(coops) needed to be bigger but he just wouldn't listen & then chicken math happened & ooops.....18 chickens!!
     
  19. Sep 22, 2012 #10
    CAjerseychick

    CAjerseychick Chillin' With My Peeps

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    For 4 chickens you could use a large bunny bottle waterer-- I used one for my 16 chicks and still have one supplemental to them... but mainly use a 3 gallon regular plastic chicken one outside, but for inside that is what I would use....
     
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