Hindsight is 20/20 - new coop

[adigi4mom]

We recently built a coop for three bantam Cochin pullets out of pallets and plywood. Since this is our first coop and flock, I am learning quickly that some of my design ideas are not working out. My immediate question is around water and food contamination. Right now we have a feeder and waterer from the feed supply store that sit on the floor of the coop. The pullets are not roosting at night yet but seem to like to sleeping almost on top of the waterer. They are constantly pooping in it. They do the same with the feeder but more by accident. I’ve read that if they are outside in the run most of the day, I do not need to have food and water indoors. Is this true? If not, how do I keep the girls from sleeping on the floor? They love their roost at other times of the day so I’m confused why they do this at night. I have deep pine bedding on the floor right now except for where the waterer is.

 

[Justicedog]

How old are they? My chickens (not bantam) are 10 weeks and yesterday, 2 slept up on the roost and tonight four out of five were up there huddled together. The fifth one couldn’t figure how to get up. I caught her and put her up there but she freaked out and jumped off. I put a plank that she could walk up and she did and then tight rope walked over to the others. I think her balance wasn’t too good. I did take the plank away as I am not confident it wouldn’t fall.

I would say give them time. Make sure it’s not too high and maybe give them an easy way up.

I’ve got older chickens on the other half of the coop so they would see where they sleep.

 

[3KillerBs]

Young chickens sleep on the floor until they reach an age where they feel that they want to go to the roost at night. That age varies.

I don't like having feed and water in the coop if I have a better option. Can you put it into the run?

My feeder/waterer shelter: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/an-outdoor-shelter-for-the-feeder-and-waterer.76487/

 

[saysfaa]

Yes, it is true that they don't eat or drink when it is dark, so it can work just as well to have the food and water outside. They do wake up hungry and thirsty and like to fill up just before going up for the night so if the food and water are outside, then "most of the day" is better to be early and late in the day.

A riser or two to put the food and water on would keep a lot the poop out of it if it stays inside. Something wide enough for them to stand on to eat/drink but not to sleep on. Or narrow enough to reach from a step of some sort.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Alternatively, you can hang the food and water from hooks above to get it off the ground - but put me in the basket with others that don't put food or water in the coop. My birds can access water from within the coop, but that's something I did to allow them to suffer inclement weather without **ME** suffering inclement weather - I have an automatic waterer hooked up to a gutter attached to the outside of the coop, inside the run - my birds can stick their head thru some livestock wire and access the gutter that way while still being protected by the run.

 

[aart]

We recently built a coop for three bantam Cochin pullets out of pallets and plywood. Since this is our first coop and flock, I am learning quickly that some of my design ideas are not working out. My immediate question is around water and food contamination. Right now we have a feeder and waterer from the feed supply store that sit on the floor of the coop. The pullets are not roosting at night yet but seem to like to sleeping almost on top of the waterer. They are constantly pooping in it. They do the same with the feeder but more by accident. I’ve read that if they are outside in the run most of the day, I do not need to have food and water indoors. Is this true? If not, how do I keep the girls from sleeping on the floor? They love their roost at other times of the day so I’m confused why they do this at night. I have deep pine bedding on the floor right now except for where the waterer is.

Post some pics of your coop, inside and out.

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC! @adigi4mom
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[adigi4mom]

Hey thanks for the reply. I can definitely put them in the run. It’s just these girls are shy and don’t come out all that often. They seem to like evenings the best for foraging. Will they remember to go down in they are hungry or thirsty in the morning once I open up the run?

Young chickens sleep on the floor until they reach an age where they feel that they want to go to the roost at night. That age varies.

I don't like having feed and water in the coop if I have a better option. Can you put it into the run?

My feeder/waterer shelter: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/an-outdoor-shelter-for-the-feeder-and-waterer.76487/

 

[3KillerBs]

Hey thanks for the reply. I can definitely put them in the run. It’s just these girls are shy and don’t come out all that often. They seem to like evenings the best for foraging. Will they remember to go down in they are hungry or thirsty in the morning once I open up the run?

You might have to push them out a few times until they get the hang of it.

Does your run have clutter and cover so that they don't feel so exposed?

 

[adigi4mom]

Not really but there is a spot under the coop that has cover. The coop is 32 inches off the ground and then the rest of the run is open. What do you mean when you say clutter?

 

[adigi4mom]

Alternatively, you can hang the food and water from hooks above to get it off the ground - but put me in the basket with others that don't put food or water in the coop. My birds can access water from within the coop, but that's something I did to allow them to suffer inclement weather without **ME** suffering inclement weather - I have an automatic waterer hooked up to a gutter attached to the outside of the coop, inside the run - my birds can stick their head thru some livestock wire and access the gutter that way while still being protected by the run.

Ouuu, that waterer sounds interesting! Do you have any pics you can share?