Food location - coop or run?

[WindingRoad]

Then what do you think we can do for you? You have a problem. You are feeding the wild life. Some how you've got to make more money or move the food.

Maybe try only filling them enough for one or two days worth of food so you can lift them to move them.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Can you make some sort of cover for the feeders to prevent the rodents from getting in? Like if it's made of PVC pipe there should be cap pieces that might fit. Yes you'll need to cover and uncover them daily, but better than feeding all the pests.

 

[RadiantJay]

Then what do you think we can do for you? You have a problem. You are feeding the wild life. Some how you've got to make more money or move the food.

Hi, I was hoping that someone had advice with placing food in the coop as opposed to the run. Perhaps the varmints are less likely to enter the small opening the chickens go through to get the food. I’ve never put food in the coop and not terribly fond of the idea but if it keeps my run floor from being eaten through, I’ll do it. The ground under my run is ruined from burrowing.

 

[henless]

Can you post pics of your set up? How big is your coop/run? Do you free range?

Until you get your gopher problem solved, you may have to feed your chickens 2-3 times per day instead of 24/7.

 

[cleoandtheflock]

Do you have pictures of your coop and run

 

[WindingRoad]

Hi, I was hoping that someone had advice with placing food in the coop as opposed to the run. Perhaps the varmints are less likely to enter the small opening the chickens go through to get the food. I’ve never put food in the coop and not terribly fond of the idea but if it keeps my run floor from being eaten through, I’ll do it. The ground under my run is ruined from burrowing.

So if you don't close your coop at night and put feed in there would the predators be enticed by your birds and the feed. Two birds with one stone. Main course and dessert?

 

[RadiantJay]

Can you post pics of your set up? How big is your coop/run? Do you free range?

Until you get your gopher problem solved, you may have to feed your chickens 2-3 times per day instead of 24/7.

Will upload pics. Coop and run are connected and fully contained. The coop itself is a repurposed cedar sauna which is connected to a full enclosed run. THe run is about 30’ long, 5’ wide, 6.6’ tall.

 

[RadiantJay]

So if you don't close your coop at night and put feed in there would the predators be enticed by your birds and the feed. Two birds with one stone. Main course and dessert?

Hi and thanks. I think you missed the mark here on assuming the coop and run are open all the time. This is my third flock and have learned a lot about taking care of chickens in bobcat, coyote, raccoon, and hawk territory. Where I live, chickens are nearly a primary source of protein for “4 leggers”.

I Will upload pics. Coop and run are connected and fully contained with 1/4” wire mesh floors. The coop itself is a repurposed cedar sauna which is connected to a full enclosed run. THe run is about 30’ long, 5’ wide, 6.6’ tall.

I will upload coop and run photos shortly. Thank you.

 

[WindingRoad]

Hi, I was hoping that someone had advice with placing food in the coop as opposed to the run. Perhaps the varmints are less likely to enter the small opening the chickens go through to get the food. I’ve never put food in the coop and not terribly fond of the idea but if it keeps my run floor from being eaten through, I’ll do it. The ground under my run is ruined from burrowing.

"Perhaps the varmints are less likely to enter the small opening the chickens go through to get the food" So is your coop door closed or not. If the varmints are getting through your hardwire don't you suppose they can get through that "small opening". Don't let them surprise you. Right now they are getting food, if you move it into the coop they will get food and birds. Don't underestimate them.

 

[RadiantJay]

If one has a persistent ground squirrel and gopher problem, to the point where they chewed through the hardware fabric floor... and one has a very large coop and run, what is better - keeping the chicken feed in the coop or run?

Challenge: Food is available 24-7, cannot be put away at night.

Thoughts?

HERe are some pictures of my set up. Repurposed sauna connected to 30’x5’x6.5’ run. Fully enclosed with 1/4” hardware wire mesh floor.

Feeders are basic tube style gravity system.

Recently removed the floor sand and gravel to repair gopher holes in the wire mesh. My Girls don’t stand on wire.

Note the floor pic with tunneling under the mesh, 30% of my floor looks like this. Eventually the gopher will chew threw wire and kick the food all over the run floor. I’ve been hunting him daily, a time in which he is very active under
My run.