Food during the day/in the coop

[maryn7]

Through searches I've found a few different opinions about this, but wanted some feedback for my situation.

I've got three 9-week-old pullets that I coop up at night, but free range in the backyard (urban) during the day. I've got an enclosure - a 9x9 run with a hardware cloth 'roof' to protect them - that I leave them in if I'm going to be away for a prolonged period (right now working from home still, but I plan to let them have free reign in the yard when they're full-sized, so the enclosure will eventually go away and right now the door is open when we are home).

They put themselves to bed about 8p and I release them at 7:30a. I've been keeping food and water in the coop each night and then moving both the food and water to the enclosure each morning because the girls like to hang out in there occasionally throughout the day and roost and whatnot.

Today I just left the food in the coop because a) I am lazy! and b) I'd ultimately like them to manage themselves a bit more without my intervention, since I won't be around most days when we go back. So far, I've seen them go back to the coop to access the feeder once today - but I'm not watching them religiously.

Questions:
1. I see a lot of folks here don't leave feed in the coop overnight with the chickens. The pullets seem to feed right when they put themselves away, and I'm not seeing a lot of feed thrown around. I also don't have a better, roofed place to store it to prevent it getting rained on, aside from on our sidewalk under the garage overhang. (This results in an unpleasant amount of chicken poop around the door to the garage.). Aside from likely increased cleaning of the coop, is there any reason to take the feed away overnight or not leave it in the coop during the day?

2. I guess I'm a little concerned that with their feed in the coop, they might eat more grass, etc. when they're hungry rather than head all the way to the coop to get the higher protein feed. Will they figure out what they need? Or do I need to be a little more interventionist to ensure they're seeing their feed so it's top of mind as their primary food?

For context - there are definitely rats about - maybe one or two that live nearby. They seem only to be active at night - perhaps because one of our cats hangs out in the yard when we're home. I haven't seen any indication that there is rat activity near the coop or the enclosure, but where I would have to leave the food if I leave it out is right by where the rats come and go.

[The cat, btw, gets along great with the chickens, so much so that I'm concerned they might view a neighborhood cat that comes into the yard sometimes as just another buddy to drink water with - but that's a separate post!]

Thanks!

 

[Doc7]

The rats are a concern if your coop isnt predator proof. If it is i wouldn’t worry about it.

I only touch my feeders once a month, when I fill them on the first Sunday of the month. They are in the coop.

 

[Wormhunter]

Through searches I've found a few different opinions about this, but wanted some feedback for my situation.

I've got three 9-week-old pullets that I coop up at night, but free range in the backyard (urban) during the day. I've got an enclosure - a 9x9 run with a hardware cloth 'roof' to protect them - that I leave them in if I'm going to be away for a prolonged period (right now working from home still, but I plan to let them have free reign in the yard when they're full-sized, so the enclosure will eventually go away and right now the door is open when we are home).

They put themselves to bed about 8p and I release them at 7:30a. I've been keeping food and water in the coop each night and then moving both the food and water to the enclosure each morning because the girls like to hang out in there occasionally throughout the day and roost and whatnot.

Today I just left the food in the coop because a) I am lazy! and b) I'd ultimately like them to manage themselves a bit more without my intervention, since I won't be around most days when we go back. So far, I've seen them go back to the coop to access the feeder once today - but I'm not watching them religiously.

Questions:
1. I see a lot of folks here don't leave feed in the coop overnight with the chickens. The pullets seem to feed right when they put themselves away, and I'm not seeing a lot of feed thrown around. I also don't have a better, roofed place to store it to prevent it getting rained on, aside from on our sidewalk under the garage overhang. (This results in an unpleasant amount of chicken poop around the door to the garage.). Aside from likely increased cleaning of the coop, is there any reason to take the feed away overnight or not leave it in the coop during the day?

2. I guess I'm a little concerned that with their feed in the coop, they might eat more grass, etc. when they're hungry rather than head all the way to the coop to get the higher protein feed. Will they figure out what they need? Or do I need to be a little more interventionist to ensure they're seeing their feed so it's top of mind as their primary food?

For context - there are definitely rats about - maybe one or two that live nearby. They seem only to be active at night - perhaps because one of our cats hangs out in the yard when we're home. I haven't seen any indication that there is rat activity near the coop or the enclosure, but where I would have to leave the food if I leave it out is right by where the rats come and go.

[The cat, btw, gets along great with the chickens, so much so that I'm concerned they might view a neighborhood cat that comes into the yard sometimes as just another buddy to drink water with - but that's a separate post!]

Thanks!

We used to leave the feeder out of the coop in the pen but at one point we counted three squirrels, countless sparrows and two female pheasants all having a great time with the corn/ layer crumb and a few nasty fights ensured with one of our girls and a male pheasant who would not quit.
Now it stays in the coop all the time and I top it up as needed usually once every couple of days
The water I check and change daily
The girls are free rangers but I have to leave the pen open when they want to return to lay,
There’s still the odd bird that will venture into the pen even though sit got a wire roof on but They only scavenge bits off the floor,the girls go into the coop to eat their crumb whenever they like

 

[humblehillsfarm]

My feed has always been kept in the coop. It's hanging, making it slightly less likely a mouse could get in during the day, but it's predator proof for night time. The feed stays nice and dry. The water is kept outside. Chickens don't really eat or drink at night once they go to bed so it's really just personal preference in my opinion.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Aside from likely increased cleaning of the coop, is there any reason to take the feed away overnight or not leave it in the coop during the day?

Hi there, hope you are enjoying BYC!

Rats, Raccoons, other freeloaders that might also steal your eggs or kill your chickens is the number one reason for removal to me.. If I was gonna leave it for the rats. Sometimes, to prevent rain I put the feeder under a picnic table.

As long as they know where the feeder is and have access to it, I don't worry about them returning... they will if they aren't being satiated on pasture. They don't just consume grass but other weed, bugs, and seeds that provide nutrient we have no way of truly accounting for if we choose to free range.. very often free ranging can actually help to prevent deficiencies and also excesses (like calcium from layer being fed to roosters) as compared to confined birds. For this and many other reasons is why I choose to feed a flock raiser with oyster shell on the side instead of layer... more nutrient per bite including protein and importantly the amino acids.. allows more fudge room if you choose to feed low nutrient snacks like scratch, lettuce, etc.

Some feeders come with built in rain covers.

I have a feral barn cat that hunts anything chick sized in addition to my personal cats.. Neither are a threat to full size chickens in my experience. But chickens are capable of recognizing up to 100 faces.. and they *seem* to have SOME sense of discernment/self preservation. Hopefully this will also be your outcome.

My number one reason aside from rats you already stated as well.. being more poo inside.. That's why I built a covered run and do collect feed every night now... my predator load here is much higher than it was when I lived in the city.. so feeding some freeloaders was not my concern at the time and feed did stay out always.. under a raised coop. Vector abatement was assisted by the city setting secured bait stations. But any long term control includes removing anything ultimately that invites them. At my current location... I trap, trap, trap.. collect feed (they still come for shrapnel).. my most effective control method is the feral barn cat... it's an ongoing process and NOT without its' own down sides!

The more poo inside though is a very personal choice and you seem to have a good handle on that being the lesser evil over the garage location.. Most things chicken keeping really are personal choices since we all have different set ups, resources, weather patterns, and thought processes, etc.

I never ever put water in my coop (unless on lock down for predators), as I don't want the added moisture, I don't want to encourage any extra hanging out inside the coop to make more poop, or even invite boredom curiosity pecks and maybe cause an egg eater, plus birds are not active at night. BUT if they have food in there, I do think a lot of the animals like to wash down their dry feed.. so I would definitely have a water source as well..

I know I haven't given a mind blowing great answer.. but I always enjoy the opportunity to review the what and why I do certain things and consider any adjustment I may need to still make.

Having the added enclosure long term, if your coop is very small, can be a bonus if you need to be on lock down for predator load (like I have a very heavy hawk season), disease control, etc.

Please note ALL my feeders are hanging.. I've seen a rat come out in broad day light and startle a hen that also startled it. When keeping feed in my coop for broody hens.. rats show up quickly.. with the bedding all over the place.. the evidence of the activity is difficult to discern if not actively caught. I even USED to just pick my feeders up and hook them higher instead of collecting.. They come down the rope from the top, I may consider adding a squirrel type baffle, teaching the girls about a treadle feeder, or consider somehow setting up a rodent proof time released auto feeder..

Hmmm, you got me thinking.. I pay BANK for someone to do that stuff while I'm gone right now AND not even being able to find someone who's both reliable and able.. made me rent out a room to have someone here.. MAYBE, some automation would be worth my investment.. even roll away style nest boxes...

Not being able to travel was the monster downside of keeping animals in the past. But they're so key to my everyday enjoyment of life that getting rid of them is to much of sacrifice to live with. I am happy to be coming up with ways that are more conducive to a balanced life for my family and me. Thank you friends for sharing!

 

[maryn7]

Thanks everyone! That gave me lots to think about - but while I make final decisions - glad to know that they'll sort themselves out in terms of finding the feed. The coop is predator-proof at night, but, of course, not during the day if their food is in there.

@EggSighted4Life Having the cat outdoors with them has been a real boon. He's 21, but caught two juvenile rats early this spring - one of them moments after waking up from a dead sleep. So maybe having the girls' food will draw a couple rats out - nothing gets past the old man.

And it is hilarious to see them cheerfully drinking out of the same water bowl..... He's also decided he likes the dried mealworms I have for the chooks, so now all four of them rush me when I get out the snacks....

 

[EggSighted4Life]

He's also decided he likes the dried mealworms I have for the chooks, so now all four of them rush me when I get out the snacks.

My pigs love the dried meal worms also. I was just wondering the other day if the cats would if given then chance since they're meat heads...

Pics always welcome of the old fella & feathered friends!

The rats come in waves here.. with some activity followed by elimination for a couple weeks before activity starts again the cycle repeats.

Oh, the rats love meal worm also.. had them invade my live colony once when I left the drawer in the pole barn over night.

 

[maryn7]

Not the best pic - lens needed a clean - but they pal around like this together a lot. Waiting for them to actually cuddled up.

Thanks again for the advice!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Simple answer: food and water can go wherever it makes sense for you and your set up, as long as the chickens can access it when needed during daytime hours.