food and water should be inside and outside or what??

[earnhardtlvr]

not going to be moving my babies out to the coop and run for 4-6 weeks yet, but someone told me that I don't want to put the food and water inside the coop or they will stay in there all day and just make more of a poopy mess? they said they never put food and water inside the coop...what do i do? they have a nice coop...all egg layers...a nice big covered run and part of the run has a roof over it. any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[viktoriacl]

I put water and food out in the run. In the winter I put it in with a heated water dish. I dont close my girls in the coop at night. If I did I'd add water to the inside too.

 

[ghillie]

We keep food & water both inside and out...

 

[dragonlair]

It depends on the weather and which pen. Sometimes they get fed and watered inside, sometimes outside. I don't see a big difference in poop depth between the 2. Most the poo comes from the night.

 

[DancingHen]

I keep food and wtaer inside and outside. My chickens always prefer to be outside during the day no matted what I put in their house. I like to have food and water available in and out of the coop at all times, so that the chickens can choose for themselves.

 

[McGoo]

IF the chickens are only inside to sleep, then it is not necessary to put food or water with them inside. Chickens sleep through the night and don't eat/drink until they wake in the morning when they come out and off the roost. I always leave their feed/water in the pen.

 

[swimmer]

Quote:
I do the same. Our run is covered and the coop door to the run is always open. Just keeps spilled food out of the coop.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Quote:
I do the same. Our run is covered and the coop door to the run is always open. Just keeps spilled food out of the coop.

x 2
My run is covered also, and the coop door stays open, so the food & the water stay out there with the water on a heated base. I have read that you should not have water inside the coop because it raises the humidity inside and can cause respiratory ailments. And having the food inside can invite mice, droppings & all their diseases/lice.

 

[earnhardtlvr]

thanks everyone for taking the time to reply! I appreciate it!

 

[packmomma]

If you are talking about babies learning the in's and out's of the coop I take my food outside so that they will come out when they get hungry and it keeps them out during the loud noises. When its night time I bring the food back in. Water is always outside and inside.

As far as adults I keep water inside and out. I throw out scratch in the morning and on nice days I will bring out one container of food. There still is one inside for the egg layers that just "have " to eat before laying. It keeps the coop nicer honestly if I keep a container of food and water outside. They wont go in unless laying an egg. They prefer to scratch for bugs anyway.