Location of Feeders/Waterers

[jenl623]

Hello! I've been trying to sort through all the boards to get the answers to some (I think!) simple questions with no luck.

I have one of those off the ground coops with an attached run, and a door that closes the coop for the night. The coop itself is about 3.5' x 3.5' and has cantalevered attached nesting boxes (2). I have two pullets. Am I supposed to be putting the feeders in the coop at night when I put them away?? Or leave the food and water in the protected run?? Or am I supposed to have food and water in both places? Seems the coop is too small for the waterer and feeder I have, which are small to begin with, and it seems like they'd knock it all over up in there. On the other hand I don't want to deprive them of food and water overnight - so I don't know what I'm doing here!! Any advice?

Also - I've been reading conflicting info on grit - do all chickens need grit provided along with oyster shell? And would I leave these out for them to free feed with like the food?

Are the pullets supposed to know to put themselves in the coop at night? I've been gathering them up and putting them in there at night - but left the door open one night while they were out to see if they naturally would go in. In the morning they were huddled together below in a corner - not in the coop.

Thanks for any help/advice!!

 

[sangel4you]

I dont know about the grit, but my coop is basically the same set up as yours (tho I may not be closing my door every night since they're run is protected as well) but even so I'm told they dont eat or drink at night so what I'm doing is hanging my food and water from below the coop in the run. Hope that helps!

 

[jenl623]

Thank you!! Sounds like just what I have! I'm not going to worry about moving the feeder/waterer back and forth. I think once I see that they know where "bed" is I may leave the door open as well.

 

[RooptyDoo]

We have our big coop with both food and water available 24/7, but our smaller coops don't have a lot of room in them so they don't. The food and water are left outside. Your chickens won't be up moving around in the dark anyway. However, on the odd occassion we have accidently left the lights on in the coop, the chickens pigged out all night!

We give oyster shell and grit free choice in separate containers from the food. They will eat what they need which, in our case, isn't much. Don't feel like you're depriving them. If you check them when you are putting them away at night you will find that they have tanked up before dark and their crop will usually be quite full in anticipation of the night ahead, and evidence of great digestion on the coop floor in the morning! LOL

Our chickens for the most part put themselves to bed at night but sometimes if you have a newcomer or if something has changed with the coop they will have to be put to bed. Our splash silkie pen has to be put to bed some nights but most of the time they will go in the coop on their own. I guess sometimes they just decide to camp out!

Hope this helps! RooptyDoo

 

[jenl623]

Thank you! I think I'm getting over my guilt trip!

 

[Backyard Hencam]

Our seven-week-old chicks had to be herded into their coop each night. It took them five days before they realized that they were to roost inside, Now they go in by themselves and cuddle on the highest roost they can get. We lock them in because of predators around here. The coop is more secure.

Since they don't move around in the dark, food and water does not have to be inside. This makes it easier on us.

Have fun with them!