Feeding During Bad Weather

[RoxanneC]

Hi, we had some rain yesterday & as my chickens are battery hens we had to show them how to take shelter & they all seemed to understand but they kept coming out from where they were sheltering for food, should I put their food with them under the shelter, let them go out & feed, try and keep them under the shelter with the food outside or something else? Thanks!

 

[centrarchid]

To help reduce rodent activity where birds roost, I place feeding location away from there. The feeding locations are generally protected from weather and often have a component of cover where chickens can avoid prying eyes of predators, even in a protected run.

One of my favorite approaches is to place three for four straw bales out in a C-shaped stack that blocks wind from N. Then chickens can avoid wind better, sometimes while in direct sun which they really like when it gets really cold.