Hello everyone, my name is Ed and Im new to chickens and a new member to the forum. Wanted to throw out a few questions in regards to feeding and watering my birds. Im presently constructing my coop and should be finished late October and my birds will be ready for pick up come late November. Im starting with 2 Rhode Island Red hybrid brown egg layers and 2 White Leghorns. My coop will be 4x6 with a 12x12 run.
My questions are:
-Should I use a hanging feeder in the coop or a fixed / mounted to the wall type?
-Is it sufficient to use only one feeder in the coop and let the birds forage in their run during the day for food? Possibly throw some scratch or feed on the ground?
-Should I have one water station in the coop and one outside the coop or will they find their way back in the coop when they are thirsty?
-In addition to their regular feed and treats should the oyster shell be mixed in with their feed or fed seperatley in a feeder or thrown on the floor?
Im sure I have other questions, lol, but for now this seems to be a good starting point. Thank you in advance for any info you can provide.
Ed
My questions are:
-Should I use a hanging feeder in the coop or a fixed / mounted to the wall type?
-Is it sufficient to use only one feeder in the coop and let the birds forage in their run during the day for food? Possibly throw some scratch or feed on the ground?
-Should I have one water station in the coop and one outside the coop or will they find their way back in the coop when they are thirsty?
-In addition to their regular feed and treats should the oyster shell be mixed in with their feed or fed seperatley in a feeder or thrown on the floor?
Im sure I have other questions, lol, but for now this seems to be a good starting point. Thank you in advance for any info you can provide.
Ed