Feed and water in pen/coop

[Aunt Angus]

Could you post a picture of your feeders? I made pvc ones but my chicks are still flicking food everywhere and I am worried about mice/rats etc.

This is what I use. The most basic of basic. The dog leashes are hung from the rafters with the clip part down (the part that hooks to the dog collar/harness). I put the handle in that. At night, I unclip them and carry the feeders indoors. Easy peasy.

(Photo from TSC website)

My birds still spill a lot, mind you, but it doesn't seem to cause a problem. They peck up most of it, or my dog eats it, or it gets mixed into the deep litter. If you really want rat-proof, I think your best bet are treadle feeders. FWIW, I was super worried about rats, but I've not had a *noticeable* problem. I'm sure they visit because they are so ubiquitous, but I have yet to see evidence of rat activity.

ETA: I realize now you were probably asking about my PVC feeders. I scrapped those for these months ago. They were those vertical ones with the 3ft extension inserted into a y-connector. Here's a pic from the web:
(Pic from Etsy)

 

[ChickenFatHead]

This is the first time I think I have ever seen someone build one of the PVC 90 degree elbow style feeders into a rectangular/flat surface/shape. Very smart! Wish I had thought of it. Haha.

Well, it's pricier with the wood box but it definitely saves space. I kept thinking it was silly to not have a feeder that fit the whole bag of feed and built the box based on the volume of a full bag. Then I thought it would be nice to have it against the wall and be able to be fill it without entering the run (the ceiling is only 5 ft tall). Fairly happy with the results as the chickens don't have to buck and weave to get their heads in the holes.

 

[Acre4Me]

I recently built a feeder into the wall of the pen. Minimal food loss and easy to refill from outside the pen. As for the waterer, drinking nipples on a PVC pipe attached to hose and a 5 gallon bucket with lid outside of the coop. Easy to fill with a hose.View attachment 1792820

Nice idea to be able to fill it from outside the pen, and for it to not take up so much space! Only comment is that rodent can chew into it since it is wood. However, util that happens (if ever), then just inspect the edges, corners, bottom every so often to see if any rodents are attempting access.

 

[Alaskan]

So how do you pick up chicken poop in a grassy area? Will it rake up?

Spray it off with water

 

[Taj_MaChicken]

I have two large water containers (5 gallon bucket and another purchased from TSC) and put float type cups on them instead of the ones that they have to peck for water. Purchased a 4 pack of cups on Amazon for $20. One is in the coop and the other in the run. I just make sure the cups are clean and functional every day.

Then I have a 36" food trough for them (purchased on Amazon but available at like a TSC). It has a bar across the top that's free spinning so they can't roost. It's in the coop, but their coop is also 8'x8'. We can afford to give up the floor space because our nesting boxes will be wall-mounted.

I put a small food dish (old cat bowl) in their run with their snacks for the day. Except watermelon... that puppy just goes on the ground.

They have a run attached to their coop and access to both all day.

 

[paneubert]

I recently built a feeder into the wall of the pen. Minimal food loss and easy to refill from outside the pen. As for the waterer, drinking nipples on a PVC pipe attached to hose and a 5 gallon bucket with lid outside of the coop. Easy to fill with a hose.View attachment 1792820

This is the first time I think I have ever seen someone build one of the PVC 90 degree elbow style feeders into a rectangular/flat surface/shape. Very smart! Wish I had thought of it. Haha.

 

[D-Bar-B]

Welcome to the wonderful world of chickens!! We've had chickens since September 2018. I was gifted 6 hens that were already laying, but now also have 7 six week old pullets. They are definitely a lot of fun!

We use the waterer and feeder from TSC and haven't had any issues. I have a shepherd's hook in the run that holds 2 waterers on bungee cords. The feeder used to hang from a shepherd's hook until hubby built a cover for me. There's a hook underneath that the feeder hangs from.

It's definitely personal preference. The feeders do leave a lot of waste on the ground, but my girls eat a lot of it off the ground too...as do the wild birds, but I haven't had any other pests getting into our yard/run.


Good luck as you determine what best works for you and your chickens!

 

[Acre4Me]

This is what I use. The most basic of basic. The dog leashes are hung from the rafters with the clip part down (the part that hooks to the dog collar/harness). I put the handle in that. At night, I unclip them and carry the feeders indoors. Easy peasy.
View attachment 1791220
(Photo from TSC website)

My birds still spill a lot, mind you, but it doesn't seem to cause a problem. They peck up most of it, or my dog eats it, or it gets mixed into the deep litter. If you really want rat-proof, I think your best bet are treadle feeders. FWIW, I was super worried about rats, but I've not had a *noticeable* problem. I'm sure they visit because they are so ubiquitous, but I have yet to see evidence of rat activity.

ETA: I realize now you were probably asking about my PVC feeders. I scrapped those for these months ago. They were those vertical ones with the 3ft extension inserted into a y-connector. Here's a pic from the web:
(Pic from Etsy)

We use this feeder too, and I'm surprised that it isn't messy. I was hesitant that they would bill out too much, but not really an issue. We hang ours from a chain and hook, but the dog leash is a really excellent idea too! We take ours inside at night. However, it would also fit inside a metal trashcan for overnight storage in the run if needed - in fact two of these could easily fit into a metal trashcan.

 

[ChickenFatHead]

Nice idea to be able to fill it from outside the pen, and for it to not take up so much space! Only comment is that rodent can chew into it since it is wood. However, util that happens (if ever), then just inspect the edges, corners, bottom every so often to see if any rodents are attempting access.

I'll consider maybe changing the exterior door to a metal one if I start seeing nibbles. Thank you for the advice and constructive criticism

 

[Ecto04]

So how do you pick up chicken poop in a grassy area? Will it rake up?