Food & Water in Coop

[Ol Grey Mare]

hi

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.

I use the same type of feeder my feed/water are in the run except when I need to run the deicer on the waterer because power is more easily accessible in the coop.
Birds at roost dont eat/drink (really they dont move....which is why so much poop accumulates under roost spots). Before going to rh oost, they fill their crops... overnight they digest that store of feed.
There is no need to have feed or water in your coop given the details you provided.

 

[Merci BeauCoop]

I use the same type of feeder
Birds ayvroost dont eat/drink (really they dont move....which is why so much poop accumulates under roost spots). Before going to rh oost, they fill their crops... overnight they digest that store of feed.
There is no need to have feed or water in your coop given the details you provided.

Thank you once again! You always give such great advice! I hope that when I have a few years of chicken-raising under my belt, I can pay it forward.

 

[Merci BeauCoop]

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.

Thank you! That helps a lot!

 

[concrete_boots]

Im also a first timer with (6) 7 week olds...they have only water in run..hanging 3 gallon bucket with lid with 5 horizontal nipples. Stays full for over a week, stays clean.
No food in run besides snacks during the day..not trying to invite any extra critters in.
Same exact waterer hanging in coop.
Food in coop.

 

[Merci BeauCoop]

Im also a first timer with (6) 7 week olds...they have only water in run..hanging 3 gallon bucket with lid with 5 horizontal nipples. Stays full for over a week, stays clean.
No food in run besides snacks during the day..not trying to invite any extra critters in.
Same exact waterer hanging in coop.
Food in coop.

Great ideas and perspective! Thank you!

 

[Coopof10]

What about night predators? Do you leave food out at night? Run or coop?

 

[aart]

What about night predators? Do you leave food out at night?

One good reason to have it in the coop.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I keep feed and water in both coops 24/7. But my coops are rodent proof when I close pop door after sunset.
Water in runs/pens, gets dumped at nightfall when I lockup the coops.
Feed in pens would be eaten by songbirds and squirrels. . GC

 

[Holland Homestead]

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!)

View attachment 1797673 View attachment 1797674 View attachment 1797675

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.

Oh my gosh look at those lil big girls

 

[Merci BeauCoop]

Oh my gosh look at those lil big girls

I keep feed and water in both coops 24/7. But my coops are rodent proof when I close pop door after sunset.
Water in runs/pens, gets dumped at nightfall when I lockup the coops.
Feed in pens would be eaten by songbirds and squirrels. View attachment 1803367. GC

Great photo! Your kids look very happy! What a beautiful coop/run!