Equipping the coop and run

[billrigsby]

Getting ready to populate the coop, once Tractor Supply gets chicks in.
Still a bit of reinforcing the run to do, but almost there.

Do you feed and water the chickens in the coop in the run or both?
Any feedback on the automatic cups you attach to a barrel for water?
Food in the coop should be hanging I understand, same in the run if fed outside?


TIA

 

[Tahai]

I only feed and water in the run. I do not want the spilled food and water rotting in my coop. (I use the deep litter method, and my run is fully enclosed in hardware cloth, and under a tarp roof, so I don't need to worry about attracting rodents or wild birds to the feed)

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I don’t feed in the coop—always in the run or, really, in my case, under cover because we free range all day. I don’t put food in the coop since I had a rat problem once and still have a fear they will show up if I leave food lying around for them.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Do you feed and water the chickens in the coop in the run or both?

Some people feed and/or water in the coop only. Some in the run only. I have food and water in both the run and the coop. We all have reasons for what we do, it's not like one way is right for everybody and any other way is wrong.

I do not let my flock out of the coop at the crack of dawn, I typically wait until after my breakfast. I want food and water in the coop ready for them when they wake up. I have food and water outside as I don't want them hanging around inside the coop and pooping in there where I have to manage it more. I almost always have a mixed age flock so I want feeders and waterers far enough apart so the younger ones can eat and drink without being bullied by the adults. In addition to the feeder and waterer in the coop I have an additional two feeders and three waters outside. My run area is big enough I can widely separate them.

Food in the coop should be hanging I understand, same in the run if fed outside?

Depends some on what your feeder and water looks like. It is often recommended to have your feeder and waterer about shoulder height on the shortest bird to reduce them raking feed out, scratching trash and bedding in, or pooping in them. Whether you hang them or put them up on something isn't that important.

Some people feel that the way they do things is the only right way and every other way is wrong. But you will find that there are a tremendous number of different ways to do almost everything and the majority of them work.

What feeder and waterer are you using?

 

[billrigsby]

What feeder and waterer are you using?

I was looking at these two options....

I have several 7.5 gallon drums with air tight lids, just add a top vent for the water

 

[Ridgerunner]

I assume that is a feeder. I'd want to hang that, when it is about empty they may be able to knock it over. I don't see how you could fill that as a waterer and it not drain before you got the lid on.

I don't use those cups but many people on here do. And you are correct, you'll need a vent.

 

[Nonafel]

Feeder outside if you're using deep litter/bedding inside the coop.
Water in cups like you show would be outside, likely with a piece of concrete block to help catch drips so they evaporate better and don't seep too far into your run.

 

[billrigsby]

I assume that is a feeder. I'd want to hang that, when it is about empty they may be able to knock it over. I don't see how you could fill that as a waterer and it not drain before you got the lid on.

I don't use those cups but many people on here do. And you are correct, you'll need a vent.

Yes that is a feeder, and yes I would definitely hang it because we have field mice around here.

 

[saysfaa]

Getting ready to populate the coop, once Tractor Supply gets chicks in.
Still a bit of reinforcing the run to do, but almost there.

Do you feed and water the chickens in the coop in the run or both?

In the combined coop/run, all deep bedded. Many options work well.

Food in the coop should be hanging I understand, same in the run if fed outside?

I put the feed pan (stainless steel dog dish) in a weighted pail (sand filling it about half way, dog dish setting on the sand or hanging from the rim depending on which pail and which dog dish) to elevate it to a little less than the level of their backs. It never tipped over. Many options work well.