HELP PLEASE.. hanging food and water vs building a shelf??

[Bad Wolf]

We are in the process of building our 1st coop. We thought we were going to hang food/water but had an idea of using a shelf with a perch so they can access their food/water. Has anyone else done something like this? Thanks for any input!

 

[AlienChick]

A hanging feeder will be easier to access and less messy.

You'll get tired of cleaning that shelf of all the spilled food mushed in the spilled water.

But if that works for you, then go for it! Everybody's situation is different.

 

[Den in Penn]

There is another option to getting them off the ground.. Putting the feeder on legs and attaching a perch for them to stand on and eat. The elevated wooden troughs that were in in the chicken house I grew up with as one example. They made metal versions as well. I did a quick search and didn't find a picture, but I did see one on here a couple of months back. You could do a version that attaches to the wall as well.