Feed/Water inside or out?

[AlienChick]

I have their feed crumbles hanging inside the coop available at all times.
They free range all day and come to the coop to eat also.
I come out throughout the day and throw them scraps from my garden and kitchen.
I keep water inside the coop as well as in several locations outside.

 

[ChickDaze]

i put my feed inside unless you plan on getting up at dawn to let them out to the food. for water, i have one large regulation waterer and put pans outside so they are garunteed not to run out.

 

[Animalian]

outside but under cover, in winter if I lock them in the coop I will put water in there with them though. I only lock them in when it's REALLY cold because the whole coop/run is on a concrete slab and we don't get big predators here that can rip through my wire.

My concern is that if they are locked inside, and something dreadful and unexpected happens to YOU overnight (family member to hospital, car accident if you go out etc) and therefore they don't get let out first thing in the morning (or even till midday), they at least have the most important thing, water, to tide them over until someone 'rescues' them.

 

[cravenchx]

Just getting ready to turn our girls out. We plan to at least have
water outside, but the food will be kept inside the coop. I like
the idea of the treats in the run. The girls are 8 weeks old now.
Our babies are going up! Must get nesting boxes built! A lot of work,
but I love watching chicken TV. No reruns and no commercials!

 

[JodyJo]

I see you are VERY new...

....

I have my food and water hanging in the run, in the winter I bring them in...I live at 8,000 ft in Colorado, we get
VERY cold temps, so my waterer sits on a heater all winter...at times I don't let the girls out of the run to
free range, they don't seem to understand, sub zero = frostbit combs!

I have no rodents, just little sparrows that occasionally eat the food, but so far so good.

Its whatever suits your needs...

 

[Kathleen1115]

We move ours in at night and out in the morning with the girls, but mainly to cut down on rodent activity at night. Looks like there is no best way and it really depends on what you're comfortable with.

 

[wayne hulgan]

We keep food inside and outside. our auto door is set for 7am. the chicks are up earlier than that so they need feed and water inside. then we keep plenty water and food outside in the run.

 

[typnslow]

Ultimately it will depend on you, your set up, schedule and your birds. We have an enclosed run attached to our coop. The pop door stays open so the girls come and go as they please. We keep both food and water inside the coop and water in the run. Treats are given on the ground in the run....or my favorite straight from my hand. Good luck and ENJOY!!

 

[stcroixusvi]

Up until recently, we kept food and water in both the run and inside, but it's been so muggy here lately, I picked up the boards that the water sits on, and there was mold growing underneath - not a healthy situation for the chicks - so now all water is outside, and will be until the weather dries up a bit.

 

[gale65]

Quote:
Can you share what kind of bedding you use? It gets so muggy here too.