Food in or out - that is the question . . .

[MelindaK]

I have been wondering whether it is better to keep food in the coop or out of the coop. Right now I put the food and water outside during the day (the chick feeder) and put both inside at night to try to get them in the coop. But it is not really working, they won't go in coop by themselves.

So I have been wondering whether to bother putting both in at night.

What works for you all??

 

[ghillie]

I have food and water inside and out. That way they always have access.....

 

[DaKid]

food and water outside during the spring -summer and part of the fall months up here North-east Mass. during the winter I feed them inside on really cold and frezzing temps and snow weather , on the nice days in the winter they eat out side ..... most of the times the chickens will head for the inside when it gets dark , only the young one's are not sure where to go , but they will follow suit in time

 

[MelindaK]

All I have are young ones (8 weeks)! They are all knuckelheads!! Working on bribery with scratch to get in, in the evening. I need them to go in eariler than dark bc son has baseball game and we not back till late.

The weather here is not that bad in the winter. If snows will melt. Gets cold, so ice water may be issue in winter!!

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

Food outside during day (in barn at night) Water in both areas day and night this way it doesn't matter where they are at they have it when they want it but I also time feed them they get food 1 hour 3times a day the rest of the time it is scratch and whatever treat I have for them theis way the ymove around and don't stay just in the coop all day eating.


In bad weather it is always inside with them.
So I would say it is your choice if you feel thay are eating to much cut back on the time you leave the food in there for them not enough then just leave it in all day as I siad it is your choice.

 

[Illia]

In. At least for us, it rains FAR too much to keep food out. The water is out, and gets refilled both naturally and by myself all the time, and their feed is left in the coop, but they rarely eat it, as there's plenty to eat outside.

 

[Kim_NC]

For us its feeder & waterer inside, extra waterer outside. All treats are fed outside, except on the very harshest Winter days.

 

[OutInTheStiks]

Water inside and out. Food inside.

 

[heyeddah]

I go with food inside dry and water outside, so the coop does not get wetter. All treats outside scratch too.
Seems to work.

 

[MelindaK]

Wow!! Lot of different answers!!!

So lot depends on climate and weather.

My coop is also small 4x4 with soon to be 5 chickens rather than 6 (we have a rooster that are going to find another home for), hubby built coop and didn't know size but did make the run big. They are out side all day (not sure if that is because they haven't figured out go back into the coop.

Okay, I think I can get away with food and water outside. I still need to make the pvc pipe feeder as well. I also want to try the rabbit water on the inside. Our weather is not that bad, at least till the rains come then I have to figure out from there.