Food and Water Placement

[FatChicksAreAOK]

We have had 5 week old chicks for a few days now - golden comets - we are locking them inside the coop at night (away from the run) for security from animals. We are planning on not putting their food and water inside the coop during the nighttime hours. Does this concern anyone - that being that they would not have access to food and water during the night?

Also, we noted the first time we did this last night that they didn't use their roost. Presently, there is no light inside of the coop. We didn't know if it is just a matter of time for them to get used to the routine of when to go up to the coop at night/that they won't have food/water at night/to locate their roost ---- or if for some reason that this arrangement is not amenable to them.

Thanks for the help

The Novice Chicken Caregiver


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[dheltzel]

You need to pen them in early enough that they can still see to get on the roosts. Sometimes it takes a while for them to learn to roost, but as long as they are safe from predators, it's not a big deal.

Leave the food and water outside, they don't need it. Grown chickens can go for hours without feed and water, though I don't like to push that too far. They will get their fill when you let them out in the morning.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I have had brooder-raised chicks start to roost as young as five weeks, but that is rare. An average age is 10 to 12 weeks with some going even longer. Until they start to roost, they should sleep in a group on the floor, likely in a corner. Broody-raised chicks will start to roost a lot earlier, so they are capable, but don’t worry about brooder-raised chicks. They will roost when they are ready.

Unless you provide light, chickens will not eat or drink overnight. They can’t see well in the dark, so they can’t see to eat. During the winter your nights may be 16 or more hours long, depending on where you live. They won’t eat for that time span.

Their normal routine is to eat a fair amount before they go to bed to fill their crop and be hungry when they wake up. During the day, a normal routine is to fill the crop by foraging and then go someplace safe to digest it before going foraging again. It’s a survival technique, don’t expose yourself to predators any more than you have to.

Don’t leave them locked up very long after daylight, but don’t worry about providing food and water in the coop at night. It’s not necessary.

Once they determine that the coop is home, they should go into it themselves about dark. You don't have to herd them in earlier once they get in that habit unless you have scheduling conflicts.

 

[FatChicksAreAOK]

Thanks for the great replies everyone!


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[gander007]

You should always have feed and water available for your chicks & chickens as you never know what may happen .....