Feeder/water placement

[bbhorsefly]

Should I keep food and water in both the coop and run? Right now, I've got water in both, and I move the feeder out into the run during the day and back into the coop at night. I'm trying to avoid them hanging out in the coop making messes for no reason. My oldest are only 8 weeks so they have no need nest boxes for months yet. The run has shade, feed, grass, bugs, water, etc. so should I just close the coop? And do they need 24 hour access to feed? I don't have an automatic door so i close the coop when they go in and roost around 9pm and open when I get up around 8am. Is that too long if I just left the feed out in the run? Thank you for any advice and experience you can give!

 

[cavemanrich]

They don't need to eat at night. Simplify things for yourself as well as keep your coop cleaner from spilled and scattered feed.
WISHING YOU BEST AND

 

[pdirt]

They don't need to eat at night.  Simplify things for yourself  as well as keep your  coop  cleaner from  spilled and scattered feed.
WISHING YOU BEST AND 

 

X2, good advice. Just make sure your feeder is covered so the feed stays dry.

 

[aart]

I leave both water and feed in coop....easier for me to refill and no wild birds attracted to run.....
.......and they are up and eating and drinking before I'm ready to let them outside.

 

[Alaskan]

I increased my run security, so that the pop door can be left open, and feed and water is left outside...

The feed and water outside:
1. Keeps the coop cleaner
2. Less things to attract rodents to move into my coop
3. Keeps the coop drier
4. A drier coop reduces frostbite risk in the winter
5. Forces the birds to come to out i to the run even when there is horrid weather, and that keeps them healthier and more active.


However, with young chicks maybe up to two months old, when I have them in my tractor, I keep food and water both up in the coop part and in the run part. Silly babies are at times too stupid to go to where the food and water is......

 

[ChickenMammX4]

So far we have water in the coop as well as the run. The feed is kept inside the coop. Any fruits or veggies are thrown into the run. We use the DLM out there so any uneated scraps break down in the litter already there. We use pine shavings in the coop and really don't want uneaten scraps laying around. So far it's worked great.