First week in the coop and run. Should I leave food and water in their coop over night?

[AngieK2016]

Hi everyone. First time chicken owner here. My babies are 5 and a half weeks old and fully feathered. They’ve spent the night in the coop a couple of times already. I was just curious if I should leave food and water in there over night for them.

 

[DouglasB]

they will sleep, wont need the food and water in the coop.

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

I personally leave food and water in the coop, but my birds also have artificial lighting in the coop, so the lights are usually on for a while before I do morning chicken chores.

 

[Kiki]

Hi everyone. First time chicken owner here. My babies are 5 and a half weeks old and fully feathered. They’ve spent the night in the coop a couple of times already. I was just curious if I should leave food and water in there over night for them.

Pictures of the inside of your coop please?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Assuming there's only natural light (so no artificial light overnight) they won't need food and water until morning.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

I leave water out in the run 24/7 because the chickens often wake up before I do and that way they have water while waiting for breakfast.

I don't leave food out (besides stray pieces that got spilled) because I don't want to attract rodents.

I wouldn't worry about water or food in the actual coop though unless they'll be stuck in there for a while during daylight (they stay in there for bad weather a lot, you don't have an automatic door and sleep in, etc).

 

[arwoon]

Hi everyone. First time chicken owner here. My babies are 5 and a half weeks old and fully feathered. They’ve spent the night in the coop a couple of times already. I was just curious if I should leave food and water in there over night for them.

I just leave the food in there all the time. They don't eat during the night and it saves me having to haul in and out the huge buckets of feed and water morning and night.

This is not recommended if you have a rodent problem, but I don't, its ok and easiest for me.

 

[GC-Raptor]

My coops are rodent proof when I close the pop door after sunset. So I leave feed and water in the coops.

I turn on lights at 5 am daily year round. GC

 

[MamaChick70]

Hi everyone. First time chicken owner here. My babies are 5 and a half weeks old and fully feathered. They’ve spent the night in the coop a couple of times already. I was just curious if I should leave food and water in there over night for them.

my 5 ladies went in there coop at 8 weeks last July. I kept them 3 days and 2 nights in the coop, ( I was told by a friend they will know this is their new home) so I had there food and water in the coop with them.
I still keep it in there with them since I am not an early riser. However, I just bought an automatic door (waiting for its arrival) and plan on leaving the food and water in the coop for now. However, quarters may get tight since I am adding 7 more chicks this season.

 

[AngieK2016]

my 5 ladies went in there coop at 8 weeks last July. I kept them 3 days and 2 nights in the coop, ( I was told by a friend they will know this is their new home) so I had there food and water in the coop with them.
I still keep it in there with them since I am not an early riser. However, I just bought an automatic door (waiting for its arrival) and plan on leaving the food and water in the coop for now. However, quarters may get tight since I am adding 7 more chicks this season.

I am a super early riser so I’ve decided no food in there at night. I’ve also been looking into an automatic door too.