Feeding Chickens in the run.

[DKS]

As of late, I have been taking the feeder out of the coop and placing it in the run when chickens are in the run for the day. I always bring the feeder back in the coop each night. I believe I read somewhere to put the feeder in the run but I don’t recall the reason. What do folks think?

 

[Callender Girl]

Contrary to what many folks say, I leave my feeders in most of my coops all the time. EXCEPT in one coop that seems to be a magnet for mice. To discourage rodents (the coop was a haven for rats last year that managed to tunnel under it; I now have buried hardware cloth under that coop, but little mice are still coming in), I put the feeder out in the run during the day and when the chickens go back into the coop at night, I put the feeder into a sealed metal garbage can.

BTW, my chickens are trying to help with pest control. They recently played a spirited game of keep away with a mouse who made the mistake of hanging out in their coop. He did not live to play another day.

 

[GC-Raptor]

My feeders stay inside both coops 24/7. My coops are rodent proof when I close the pop door after sunset.
I only give treats in the run/pen, Scratch Grains daily.

Feed in my pens would attract songbirds, chipmunks and squirrels.
My chickens go to feed inside coops several times daily.

GC

 

[DobieLover]

I feed exclusively in the run. However, my run is basically an extension of the coop. It is as predator proof as the coop. I did catch a field mouse on my run camera munching on the food one night and found where he was squeezing in between where two pieces of hardware cloth met at the corners of the apron. I stuffed stainless steel wool into the gaps and two days later... well, it smelled like dead mousy for a while under my coop which had an apron on the run side before the run was built so mousy got trapped under the coop and couldn't get out.
Other than that, I've had no issues with unwanted guests at the feed stations.

 

[KarynVA]

I have a spillproof feeder that I keep in the coop 24/7; it is secure enough to not attract rodents (no smell, no spilled feed on the floor of the coop). While in their run, the chickens can go into the coop and get food as needed (and they often do). I sometimes give them treats in the run but I clean up any remaining food morsels afterward so as not to attract vermin.

 

[jreardon1918]

I think feed and water placement is a preference based on circumstances. Our coop is a bit small 4'x8'. Our main run is very secure. No wild birds, have not noticed mice or other critters. The run is covered the feed does not get wet. The water is out of the sun most of the day. The chickens have 24x7 access to the run. So for me it is the best choice. YMMV.

Note, the light colored stuff on the ground is not feed. It is the fall pine shavings cleanout from the coop.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I’m the outlier here, but my feed inadvertently attracted a bear. I don’t care how strong your hardware cloth is, it isn’t bear proof. Consider the predators in your area. If big predators aren’t a problem, leaving food in the run should be okay. In my laying flock, I keep the feed inside the coop all day. It is rodent proof, and I’ve never had a problem. For my meat chickens, because the just poop and lay next to the feeder all day, I put the feeder outside during the day and bring it in at night. Again, I don’t leave it out because of the bear problem.

 

[jreardon1918]

I’m the outlier here, but my feed inadvertently attracted a bear. I don’t care how strong your hardware cloth is, it isn’t bear proof. Consider the predators in your area. If big predators aren’t a problem, leaving food in the run should be okay. In my laying flock, I keep the feed inside the coop all day. It is rodent proof, and I’ve never had a problem. For my meat chickens, because the just poop and lay next to the feeder all day, I put the feeder outside during the day and bring it in at night. Again, I don’t leave it out because of the bear problem.

A bear. yikes. We have predators, but bears are not among them. Hope the coop is made of brick. Wood may not be enough.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

A bear. yikes. We have predators, but bears are not among them. Hope the coop is made of brick. Wood may not be enough.

Wood wasn’t enough. He tore apart the coop twice. We’ve since reinforced it with nails pointing out of the weak parts, and surround the coop with unwelcome mats. It already had electric, but it wasn’t enough. We had no idea bears were such a problem until they were a problem! I’m building a new coop that has thicker walls and it’s elevated pretty high. It’s also much larger. I’m hoping the size alone will be a deterrent because I’m tired of all the extra work that goes into prepping the current coop each night. He killed 12 of my neighbors chickens too, and their coop is covered with metal. He broke in through the door from my understanding.