Food & Water in Coop

[Merci BeauCoop]

Where should you keep the food and water - in the coop or run? And why? I know this is a pretty basic question but I’m new to this.

 

[sourland]

Unless the run is covered, I like feed in the coop. Water in the run has always been my preference - spills occasionally happen.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Where do you have the most space, is the run covered, what type of feeder/waterer are you using, etc?
There is no one right answer as many factor, such as the above questions, come into play. In a small prefab unit, for example, there really isnt room for feed, water and the already overestimated number of birds the manufacturer quoted. In a larger coop, there are more options. Large based feed/water units have a bigger footprint whereas a small PVC feed or water station tends to be mounted close to or attached to walls, etc making the space taken up much smaller.
Posting pics of what you are working with may help

 

[Farmgirl1878]

My run is covered, so I usually keep food in two Grandpa’s Feeders and (right now) water in a metal fount and have a nipple waterer. At the moment, there are six eight-day old chicks in with the flockers, so the feed is in rubber pans or in the chick feeder and there are two metal founts in the run. I’ve got the feeders and waterers spread out so Momma Goldie doesn’t get hinky and run everyone off. (The reason I took the food out of the Grandpa’s Feeders was because my smallest, most curious chick, got trapped under the lid when she hopped up and in while a big bird was eating. I just about had a heart attack when I couldn’t find her but heard her peeps from somewhere!)

When the weather is horrible (I’m talking fourteen below and windy), I will move a feeder and waterer (with a heated base) inside the coop so they can chow down in relative comfort.

 

[Merci BeauCoop]

Unless the run is covered, I like feed in the coop. Water in the run has always been my preference - spills occasionally happen.

Thank you. The run is covered. So they don’t need water while they are in the coop overnight? Or food?

 

[Farmgirl1878]

No, no midnight snackers in my flock! They eat, drink, and chat about their days right before bed, but once they settle in on the roost, they don’t get up to eat or drink.

I only put food and water inside the coop when the weather is really bad so they have the option of going inside during the day.

 

[aart]

Feed and water in coop.
My run is not protected from rain/snow/wild birds.
I use lights on early in winter and they need to eat and drink.
Horizontal nipple water doesn't spill, tho they do drip a bit.
Feed is stored in coop shed, so just easier for me.

 

[Merci BeauCoop]

hi

Where do you have the most space, is the run covered, what type of feeder/waterer are you using, etc?
There is no one right answer as many factor, such as the above questions, come into play. In a small prefab unit, for example, there really isnt room for feed, water and the already overestimated number of birds the manufacturer quoted. In a larger coop, there are more options. Large based feed/water units have a bigger footprint whereas a small PVC feed or water station tends to be mounted close to or attached to walls, etc making the space taken up much smaller.
Posting pics of what you are working with may help

The chicken part of the coop is 8’ x 8’ and the covered run is 10’ x 12’. We have an auto door between the two that opens 1/2 hour after sunrise and closes 1/2 hour before sunset. I was worried that they wouldn’t have food or water while they are in the coop if I put it in the run. Attached is the feeder that I am using.

 

[Merci BeauCoop]

 

[imnukensc]

Thank you. The run is covered. So they don’t need water while they are in the coop overnight? Or food?

No, they do not need either one overnight. They neither eat nor drink when roosting. My run is totally covered and my coop is only 5X5 so food and water is in the run. My pop door (which stays open 24/7/365) opens directly into the run so as soon as they get off the roost they have access to feed and water. If you are in an area where the birds are confined to the coop due to weather or other reasons, then food and water in the coop would be needed.