Feed inside the coop or outside?

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I keep feed and water outside of coop. It matches my management of opening the coop door every morning and not locking chickens in coop during cold weather. The use of tarps for corner or sides of prevailing wind makes for the wind shield to protect birds. It's virtually same temp as in the coop and they prefer to be outside unless there is snow on ground in which case you need to shovel it and put a thin layer of hay down or they don't want to walk on it. You can make a small stand and hang the feed under it, I always have coops on stilts so feed and water are under coop. Feed should be brought inside each night to deter attracting larger animals and rodents from feeding unchecked.

A system of rodent control should be in place in the beginning of raising birds. Rodent populations will get out of control and that's no fun. Systems for drowning rodents or snap traps in protective container work well enough if started in the beginning. Otherwise chunx bait in tamper proof boxes is really the best way to eradicate them. Never use poison pellets, they get strewn about as the rodents drop them going back to nests. Chunx has to be chewed off so it fits in cheeks, brought back to nest where kits and adults die there.

This is the bait and locked bait box (tamper proof) I'm talking about. I have one of these in corner of run at all times unless chicks are in there. Image is copied from google images.

we use the same thing for rats, it makes me nervous, but it's the only way for a rat problem, they are too smart for traps.

 

[DreamsInPink]

I keep feed and water outside of coop. It matches my management of opening the coop door every morning and not locking chickens in coop during cold weather. The use of tarps for corner or sides of prevailing wind makes for the wind shield to protect birds. It's virtually same temp as in the coop and they prefer to be outside unless there is snow on ground in which case you need to shovel it and put a thin layer of hay down or they don't want to walk on it. You can make a small stand and hang the feed under it, I always have coops on stilts so feed and water are under coop. Feed should be brought inside each night to deter attracting larger animals and rodents from feeding unchecked.

A system of rodent control should be in place in the beginning of raising birds. Rodent populations will get out of control and that's no fun. Systems for drowning rodents or snap traps in protective container work well enough if started in the beginning. Otherwise chunx bait in tamper proof boxes is really the best way to eradicate them. Never use poison pellets, they get strewn about as the rodents drop them going back to nests. Chunx has to be chewed off so it fits in cheeks, brought back to nest where kits and adults die there.

This is the bait and locked bait box (tamper proof) I'm talking about. I have one of these in corner of run at all times unless chicks are in there. Image is copied from google images.

You keep this in your run at all times, unless you have chicks in there? Like, baby chicks, you mean? I was confused at first, thinking, why wouldn't you have chicks in there all the time.. it's a chicken run? But yeah, I think you mean younguns... yes? And are mice really that much of a problem? Don't chickens eat mice? Just curious. Thank you!

 

[DreamsInPink]

Oh, are these big enough for rats as well? Or just mice? Thanks!

 

[junebuggena]

I, personally, would never use poison to deal with a rodent problem around chickens. Chickens can, and will eat mice (dead or alive). Just not worth the risk. An electric trap works great and is much safer.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Unfortunately around here in the fall we get rats trying to tunnel into the shed and set themselves up. They are way too smart for traps and we have to use poison. Mice aren't that big of problem, probably because the chickens take care of them. We use that exact bait station. It is put down in the fall and picked up in the spring. For mice I would use traps too.

 

[DreamsInPink]

I agree with not really wanting to use poison. Is there an electric trap for rats?But if all else fails, I have to know what to do. I've yet to experience any of this for myself yet. I'm just trying to get as much information as possible.

I'm really hoping with the construction of the coop, rats won't be an issue. Maybe I'm fooling myself.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

There are electric traps for rats, I hate poison too and am nervous whenever we set it out, but it's the only thing that will work for us. Rats are so destructive with the tunnels. By the time winter starts the rats are all dead, otherwise they would continue to reproduce. I hope you don't get rats, mice are easy.

 

[DreamsInPink]

How do they get into the coop though? Ours is new, still being built actually. The structure is very tight and there will be hardware cloth on all vents and windows. The only concern I'm having is the door... It's not going to be a regular house type door... What's the smallest opening a rat can squeeze through?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Rats will simply chew a hole through the wood, or tunnel up and under, concrete floors can help, keeping the area around the coop free of hiding areas also help. Mice will squeeze through small openings.

 

[DreamsInPink]

Well the concrete floor isn't an option as it's raised up off the ground. The floors are deck boards.. planks. And we are putting vinyl over that. The area will definitely be kept tidy and clutter free, though I am planning on doing some landscaping in the area.

I'm afraid to use poison, in case a rat or mouse got into the poison and then got nabbed by a chicken. I'd much rather go with a reliable trapping system... electric or otherwise.