Food and water in coop

[Bulldog164]

Hi guys, when I put my chickens to bed at night I put a small feeder and drinker in there with them. When I let them out in the morning they have got loads of wood shavings in the feeders! Is there a way of preventing this? I put wood shavings in the nesting boxes and wood shavings on the floor under the perches, is this the right thing to do?

 

[Judy]

If it has been daylight for a while when you let them out, they may just be agitating to get outside. Is the feeder high enough, at the high part of their backs? Wood shavings, or any of several other types of litter, are fine in the nests and under the roosts; whatever is convenient for you.

You could also just put water in there at night, and have them wait til they get outside to eat, again depending on how late you let them out. They won't eat or drink til after sunrise.

 

[Bulldog164]

They get up between 7 and 8 and go to bed between 7 and 8. The drinker is on the floor, should I try lifting it higher?

 

[ny mason]

At night mine only have access to water.

 

[SherriPalmer]

If it has been daylight for a while when you let them out, they may just be agitating to get outside. Is the feeder high enough, at the high part of their backs? Wood shavings, or any of several other types of litter, are fine in the nests and under the roosts; whatever is convenient for you.

You could also just put water in there at night, and have them wait til they get outside to eat, again depending on how late you let them out. They won't eat or drink til after sunrise.

Is there a certain age before the can go without food overnight? "Overnight" for us means from 7pm- 9am. My four are about 5 weeks old, in their coop, in our garage till they're older, and I'm starting to worry about mice.

 

[carladababe]

I keep both water and crumbles in the coop and out in the run. It takes a little extra work, yes they like to kick up the shavings but I like the idea of having access to food and water in case I can't get out early in the am to open the coop door into the run, such as rain, snow, or heaven forbid I sleep in on a day off.

 

[Bulldog164]

Ok so there's not much I can do? I'm not fussed with cleaning it its more a case of I don't want them clogging the water with shavings and not being able to drink

 

[carladababe]

The water container in my coop is always dirtier than the one in the run, try raising it up with a brick or two. Good luck.

 

[horsnsport]

agree with raising it up

 

[Bulldog164]

It's now sat on a breeze block in the coop, much better