Feeding inside coop or outside in run?

[Yay Chicks!]

They don't really need to eat and drink at night, so if you get up early enough in the morning to let them out, it can work just as well to feed and water outside. I have a very small coop though that they just use to sleep and lay in. The thing about having food outside, is that I have to put it away every night to not attract rodents...not a big deal for me, but it's an extra step.

 

[maclady]

I keep my girls feed hanging inside the coop. I have a small chick waterer on a brick in a corner and a large waterer hanging outside for them. Works great so far. I just didn't really want to be feeding a lot of small bird besides my chickens.

 

[CptCluck]

Quote:
Do the nipples on the nipple-type feeders leak at all? I like the idea of an auto feeder inside the coop with as little mess as possible.

 

[mons02035]

Quote:
Do the nipples on the nipple-type feeders leak at all? I like the idea of an auto feeder inside the coop with as little mess as possible.

I use a bucket and I have to fill it up but the nipples do not leak. This (the nipples not nessacerily the bucket) is by far the best method to water your girls IMHO. And if you have a winter and you have electricity all you have to do is add a submersible fish tank heater to keep water from freezing. If you use the bucket method, remember to have a small hole somewhere to keep suction from forming so the nipples will work correctly.

 

[jhammett]

is it hard to teach your chickens to use the nipples. Mine are still using the 2 quart size waterers i had in the brooder. I refill or empty and refresh twice a day. they look healthy but i have 20 chicks 5 weeks old. are they getting enough? I assume because warterers arent empty when i check they are getting all they want. Would you put one nipple per chick ... whats the ratio of chick per nipple?

 

[suewtsn]

I have my big feeder inside and throw scraps and scratch around outside every day. There are mice around but the chickens kill or the cats get them so nature takes its course. I don't worry too much about thy part.
In the summer I have a plastic kids sand box I keep with fresh water. They stand there and drink all the time. Winter water is indoors so not to freeze.

 

[bernaboo111]

I feed my chickens outside, except during the winter. That is when the food goes in. The water is also outside, except the winter. During the winter, they are locked in all the time. Almost.

 

[bernaboo111]

If you are worried about mice, then get a couple of outdoor cats. That is what we did and we have no mice. It's awesome.