Food in the coop?

[chickencrazy9]

Morning all!
I've heard that most people put a feeder in the coop with the chickens. I'm concerned that my coop may be too small to have it in there with them.
Would it be ok to hang it under my coop ( that's where the water will be)?

I know it important for them to eat first thing in the morning and I plan on being out there before sun up to open the coop door.
Thank you,
Nervous Nelly!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

That's all I've done for four years. Food and water hung under the coop only. Let the chickens out after sunrise and shut the coop when they roost at sunset.

 

[chickencrazy9]

Great! Thank you for your speedy response!

 

[azygous]

When I first built my first 4' x 4' coop, I tried hanging a feeder in there, along with water, but it was so cramped, the hens ended up knocking over the water and spilling much of the feed. Besides, I noticed they very rarely spent time in there during the day. So I moved the water and feed out into their run.

For chickens who spend all their time cooped up during winter, it makes sense they would need feed and water in there. But for chickens who spend most of their time outside the coop, food and water need only be provided outside. After all, they don't eat and drink at night unless you have a light on to stimulate egg production.

 

[JackE]

I keep the feed in the coop. Water is kept inside and out with my setup. The problem with feed outside, is that it can draw undesirables, in the form of wild birds, and/or rodents, who are looking for a free meal. Now, if you have a tight secure run, to keep the wild birds and rodents away from the free food, it may work for you. Otherwise, outside feeders can be a problem.

 

[pinklily]

Our food and water feeders are hanging in the run - but ours is a home built coop and a redesigned rabbit hutch which is left open so they can get out when they like in the morning into the run and I let them out the run in the day unless the weather is bad they are kept in the run which has logs to climb on and a fully covered roof to protect them - we're just working the logistics if a light and plug socket in there or how to have a speaker in there because they love the radio on - at the moment it's in the shed and my neighbours are moaning it's too loud during the day when they're all at work !!!!! So we're going to sort a way of it being closer to them or as I said a speaker in their run - any ideas on that people?
Forgot to say we have to move the food feeder at night cos of the 4 legged long tailed invaders !! Hubby puts them back in the morning on his way to work