feeding hens inside or out?

[noriko]

We keep the feeder inside & outside and the waterer outside because we have some ducks with the chickens. Ducks are very messy! I can't keep the waterer inside. Chicken & ducks are happy with it but, now we got the skunk problem here. I can smell them every night when I go to close the chickens & ducky's door with my big flash light..... and I know we have some mice too. It's not easy to get rid of them

Noriko.

 

[newchicksnducks]

We feed and water inside the coop. Our coop appears to be pretty predator proof (only time will tell). Unlike our run, where our two ducks were killed by a weasel

Yes, they probably spend a little more time in the coop than necessary, but as we offer treats outside, plenty of places to dustbathe, scratch, and roost outside, I think it works best for us feeding inside. We've yet to go through our first winter in Northern Ohio, which would really be impractical for us to ever attempt to feed and water outside!

 

[Paganbird]

I feed outside the coop when the weather is nice. During the winter, I feed inside the coop, but I make sure all the feed is eaten... or I empty it into a bucket... before I close up the coop for the night.
I don't leave feed in the coop overnight due to the chipmunks. They're worse than mice here.
I personally find that the coop stays cleaner & better smelling if the food is outside. Not to mention the shavings... they'll dig in the shavings for the dropped food & get shavings in the feeder & waterer if I leave them inside. And, yes, both feeder & waterer are raised off the floor. They really kick up those shavings!

 

[TammyTX]

Mine get fed/watered outside the coop.

We have been in a drought so rain isn't much of an issue. Come this winter El Nino is supposed to bring rain so I'll need to cover the feed.

I usually only keep enough food that can be eaten in a day if it looks like rain. They love the wet food as much as the dry, just be very careful that no moldy food bits are left behind.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

cmom, what a spic and span set-up you have!

I'm also new to chickens. We have food and water inside the coop and an extra waterer outside. My chickens can go back and forth inside and outside the coop all day, so they have access to everything.

I keep their small "baby" feeder in the coop as well, and whatever is left in the a.m. I toss out in the pen to give them something to peck at.

And, of course, I stop by with meal worms from time to time