In run or in coop

[Slaphappy]

New to the forums .I'm going to start a flock for the first time. I've read conflicting things out there .Is it best for food to be in the run or coop? I live in Illinois .thanks!

 

[Tlco]

Not sure what is best but i feed in the run. It works out pretty good on my free range flock. when i want them to go to bed (sometimes earlier then they want too) i call them and throw out cracked corn and a few handfulls of feed for a treat and they come running. They have a feeder and water in there as well so on nasty wet cold days they are feed and watered. I think its a matter of preference. Good luck

 

[Ribh]

Hmmm, we come to a language barrier.... I have a pre~fab coop with a small run attached ~ so it is a single unit & that is where I keep the girls food & water. I would never put either food or water in the actual coop [where they roost] because chooks are night blind [spillage problems?] & they don't feed or drink after dark.

 

[BGcoop]

My run is not covered and we have a large elevated converted shed thing as the coop, so we feed in there. So far not too many rodents getting the food in there but they do go for any scratch that is left in the run. I agree that you will have to do some trial and error to see what works best for you.

 

[Tlco]

Hmmm, we come to a language barrier.... I have a pre~fab coop with a small run attached ~ so it is a single unit & that is where I keep the girls food & water. I would never put either food or water in the actual coop [where they roost] because chooks are night blind [spillage problems?] & they don't feed or drink after dark.

In the small prefab coop i use to have i kept food and water in the run as keeping it in the roosting are was just too small. I have a 10x10 coop no run attached as they are free range and i keep there food and water in there. I throw out treats in the coop when i want them to go to bed. It works great for me. I found my smaller prefab was just not big enough so had the larger one built for them. Good luck with your flock.

 

[moniquem]

I keep my food and water in the run, coop is too small for the chickens and the food and water. I bring the food in at night, I do not leave it in the run.

 

[starri33]

Right now, I have a 10 x 10 coop, large run, am in the process of building a 8 x 24 coop, I have 2 hanging feeders in the coop, waterer out in the run.. I keep the food in the coop as protection from wind (our wind gusts can get up to 50 mph, there are very few days that it isn't windy ) and rain. The flock wastes enough food with out help..lol.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have food both in coop and run. Fermented feed goes in the run, as it's wet I don't want that moisture in the coop. Dry feed goes in coop, to keep it dry and to reduce waste that attracts rodents, and to ensure the birds have access to food even during bad weather when they don't want to go out. Having food spread out in multiple locations also helps with any pecking order/bullying issues as well, as it prevents higher ranked birds from guarding all the resources.

 

[blackdog043]

I have food and water in the coop and in the run, It's available 24/7. Although the chickens won't need either, while they roost at night. My run has a solid cover, so no problems with it getting wet. I use DIY no waste feeders and for my waterers I use containers with horizontal nipples. You will get responses why people keep it inside or outside, it's a personal preference. Some people take there feed up at night, to prevent rodents from eating it.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I keep feed and water in both coops. . My coops are well ventilated with vents and or a open window. I also have water under raised coops. I give a wet feed in pen during the summer. Songbirds would devour feed in open pens.
If your coop has the room and ventilation, that's an option. GC
ETA; I don't leave the people door open on coops during the day, only the chicken door.