Moving food and water

[ChickenMama1958]

We started introducing our new chicks to their run about a month ago, for the first couple weeks they spent the day in their run and nights in the brooder in the basement. About 2 weeks ago we moved them to their coop by locking them in the coop for a couple days. They picked up going in and out of the coop to the run very quickly. The problem is we started out putting their food and water on the ground in the run and in the coop at night. They have a “patio” where the food and water will go permanently but when we put it there they do not go up and eat or drink during the day when they are in their run. How do we teach them their food and water is there so they go get it?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Perhaps it is as simple as leaving them locked in the coop a couple hours after dawn so they can fill their crop. Then if they get hungry during the day they'll go back for it.
Do you have a proper feeder and water fount you can put on their 'patio'? Putting feed on the ground encourages rodents and insects.
Chickens get hungry when their crop empties. They aren't stupid either. They'll remember where they found food last when the desire strikes them. Is it hot there? Where are you located? If it is hot in the coop, that could prevent them from entering during the day.

 

[Hungry Chicken]

I would try lifting them up there or put some treats to tempt them. Once they see the food/water they'll know it's there. They will eat when they're hungry

 

[ChickenMama1958]

We are in Minnesota so not horribly hot and yes we have proper containers for food and water. They did go up and eat this afternoon but don’t seem to go up to drink very often. I am probably worrying about nothing, lol.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Does the coop have a lot of natural light where the feeders are? Chickens can't see in low light.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Any photos of this "patio" - hard to figure out what the issue is without being able to visualize.

 

[ChickenMama1958]

Here is their “patio”, it has 3 sided wind block (Minnesota winters) and the run is 3/4 roofed.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Here is their “patio”, it has 3 sided wind block (Minnesota winters) and the run is 3/4 roofed.

That's a cute little area, thanks for the photos because I wasn't sure what the patio would look like. For now, I think they mostly need time to get used to the food and water being there, if they were being fed on the run floor and inside the coop before that.

Is that the only place you plan to have food and water in from now on? My only concern is the space isn't very big so it might be difficult for multiple birds to eat at the same time, and you could get resource guarding when they're older as dominant birds will sometimes try and hoard food to themselves.

 

[ChickenMama1958]

That's a cute little area, thanks for the photos because I wasn't sure what the patio would look like. For now, I think they mostly need time to get used to the food and water being there, if they were being fed on the run floor and inside the coop before that.

Is that the only place you plan to have food and water in from now on? My only concern is the space isn't very big so it might be difficult for multiple birds to eat at the same time, and you could get resource guarding when they're older as dominant birds will sometimes try and hoard food to themselves.

 

[ChickenMama1958]

Good point, do have other options in mind if that happens. Thank you for your response.