Feeding in the hen house????

[Chicken Princess]

I keep mine in the 8x8 coop. I "wrapped" the floor framing with 1/2 inch hardware clothes. Plus, I made a bucket feeder with 3 inch pvc pipes which effectively prevented any spillage and waste. I put both feeder and waterer on top of a wooden pellet. I made watered even higher with a concrete block. This way, both feeder and waterer stays relatively clean.

 

[Cindy in PA]

Have always kept mine inside, because before auto door they got up before sunrise in the winter & needed food & water. Have a sturdy 24 year old hanging feeder with a deep lip (3-4 inches?) & a regular waterer raised up on a bulb crate. It sits up about 10 inches. Never had a water or food mess. My coop is 8 by 8 with all things except waterer off the ground, so most space is usable. 13 chickens presently. No covered run.

 

[Farming Feathers]

I thank everyone for their input and it seems I will not need to use this information until spring...My hen Fancy has now been missing since Wednesday and talking to neighbors there was a raid locally on farmers where two farms lost hens in around this last Wednesday around the same time my girl went missing without any signs of attack or struggle...the predator's are local free running domestic dogs being seen by both farmers. I was not home so cannot say what happened or what animals were involved. I'm still working on my coop and run and think for my future flock will leave feed out of the hen house and confine feed and water to run.
I won't likely have any future questions until I have a new flock to talk about...Kind regards all.

 

[rosemarythyme]

So sorry to hear about your loss. Definitely beef up your security against predators. I wish you the best of luck with chickens in the future.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

How sad. I'm sorry you lost your hen.

Agreed. Make a solid coop and run, then get more chickens.

We will look forward to your return in spring

LofMc

 

[lazy gardener]

So sorry you lost your gal, FF. Hope those other farmers are able to deal with the murderous dogs.

Plastic trays ( http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/category/large-trays ) placed under the feeders and waterers help contain the mess and make for easy cleanup if you have room in the coop for them. We even have them under the roost to catch the nightly poops.

I was impressed with these trays. Are they heavy plastic, or are they made of the same light wt plastic that the usual trays for gardening are made of? One of these just might be perfect for boxing off the space under my second set of perches so I can use that area for brooding chicks or a feed/water station.

 

[aart]

I was impressed with these trays. Are they heavy plastic, or are they made of the same light wt plastic that the usual trays for gardening are made of?

Me too! Have seen this site before but haven't ordered.
Tho did have a tray with a plant light stand, very nice.
I think most are pretty heavy, probably about 1/16-3/16".
Wish they'd give the thickness in product description.

 

[Farming Feathers]

Here is a question from all of you who use and know Backyard forums....this forum where I'm posting may not be the correct one for this question....My gal was trying to communicate that my idea of where to put a coop and hen house was not the best....because she knew what the local predators were...domestic dogs.

Being a human and not a chicken whisperer...I thought wrong. and now that I know the real danger here I want ask those of you who have this predator does electric fence repel dogs????

Here on this property that I now rent was found signs of the previous owner had some chickens, and put up auto turn on lights using motion sensors (bulbs gone and have yet to look for switch to turn them on-off....but most important I found wiring running along the fence that would be used for electric power as applied to larger live stock...goats or cattle and why I didn't relate it to chickens...who electrifies a chicken run???.

So where should I now ask question to find those among you who may have an answer to that question and best apply it as I just don't like shooting animals as the total answer...thanks Larry

 

[aart]

I want ask those of you who have this predator does electric fence repel dogs????

Yes, it will, if configured and maintained properly.

but most important I found wiring running along the fence that would be used for electric power as applied to larger live stock...goats or cattle and why I didn't relate it to chickens...who electrifies a chicken run???.

Folks who have tenacious predators, especially bears...or dogs or raccoons or......
Sounds like the wire you have may have been for keeping large livestock in rather than keeping predators out.

I don't have predators that warrant hot wire, but I sure have read a lot about it.
There are many different ways to use hot wire to protect a flock and/or property.

If you are really interested in setting up hot wire on your rented property,
would probably be best to start a new thread here titled something like "Protecting my Flock with Hot Wire". Post pics of area and existing wires and your coop/run and explain the situation. Not sure how much you'd want to invest on a rented property, especially if you don't plan to be there long term, or if your landlord would even allow it, some things to think about before proceeding.

You could also do some searches here on BYC using the terms 'electric fence', 'hot wire', 'poultry netting'....there ya go, I did the searches for you and linked the results, start reading

Also Howard E is a hot wire guru and has written extensively, and well, about hot wire setups and function and always seems willing and able to tutor and/or troubleshoot.

 

[Altfrizzle]

I installed a hot wire around my coop and run after losing 11/12 chickens to raccoons.