food and water in the coop at night and roosting

[Who Rules The Roost]

My girls are now 6 weeks old (and one 5 week old...she came a week later) and living in the coop/run and have been since I got them at 4 weeks. At night when I put them to bed, I move their food and water back in there with them. They go in about 8. I let them out the next morning around 9 because it's usually warmed up a bit more outside. My question is how long should I continue to keep food and water in their with them at night? Should I not transport it back and forth anymore and just leave it outside? Also, noticed they like to huddle together still at night. Should I put them on roosting bars after they are asleep?

 

[Who Rules The Roost]

Also...I made them a baby roosting bar that's been in there with them. It's very low...a couple inches high. But today we made their big girl roosting bars and put them in the coop. But not sure if they'll fall off if I put them on the lower one. It's about 18 inches high.

 

[ayeitsmeme]

Personally, having gone through a rat infestation in my coop (cringe) I would take the food out at night. I only feed my bunch when they're out ranging now and have finally beat those fuzzy vermin. So food I would take out now...trust me rats are horrific! And they seem to be able to weasel through the tiniest gaps. The water, I always have water in my coop. Since I have ducks that love to dabble and since they can choke without water it's always there. I've also heard horror stories of people having something come up in the summer and not letting their birds out early and the heat/lack of water killing them. So I always just feel better with them having water. Hope that helps!

 

[Who Rules The Roost]

Oh boy...that sounds horrible. I don't think they're eating at night anyway but don't know what time they actually wake up, and with them being young I wasn't sure how long they should go without food. Rats are a good reason to leave the food outside from now on! Thank you!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I stop leaving food overnight with chicks at around 4 weeks. Depending on your feeder I wouldn't leave food "outside" either - best to store it at night in such a way so that rodents won't get attracted to it. I use a metal trash can.

Water can be left out all the time. I don't put mine in the coop as I want the coop to stay bone dry.

As far as roosting, it's up to you how you want to handle it. You can let them decide for themselves when to start roosting, or you can make them do it by manually putting them up each night until they get the hint.

As far as if they'll stick on the roost... here's 5.5 week old chicks roosting at about 40", they went up with no urging from me.

 

[Who Rules The Roost]

Awe! Yes! I actually have a Grandpa's Feeder but they aren't tall enough yet to use it. I will bring their feeder in with me at night! Thanks for reminding me about that! I would have spaced it off! Look at your girls like rock stars on the roosting bars! That's adorable! I'll give them time to figure it out and if they don't, in a couple weeks, I'll place them on the bars "manually" lol. Thank you!