night feeding & watering

[genabeana]

When I lock the chickens up in their coop for the night, is it standard practice to put food and water in there with them?

I was thinking that the coop would stay cleaner if they didn't eat all night. Do they even eat at night? What's the story with that, anyone?

Thanks, as always, for all your tips!

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

I asked this no to long ago and got a lot of response saying that if they are only in there for night then it is not neccessary. I moved my feeder and waterer out side and they actually seem to be using it more now and my coop is much cleaner.

 

[Panther Creek Poultry]

They should not come off the roost to eat or drink unless they have not gotten enough throughout the day. So I would say that leaving the food and water outside would be fine. Mine is inside because I let mine free range and there is no place to put the feed that is covered except the coop.

 

[gritsar]

My chickens start eating when they first get up, which is at daybreak. I don't get up anywhere near that early. They have food available in their coop all the time.

 

[Renee']

When I lock their coop at night (9ish), I bring their waterer inside the house to wash then then following morning (4:30ish), when I go out to feed the horses and clean corrals (before work), I fill the waterer with warm water and put it in the coop. The girls never miss their water and I don't have to worry about it freezing.