Questions from a new chicken keeper: watering and lamps

[chickpea77]

Hi,

I have had my 9 week old pullets outside for about 1 week in their new coop. They are loving the run. The book I read, Keeping Chickens, states that their water and food go in the run, meaning they don't need to eat or drink overnight. I can get behind the not eating where they sleep, as their hen house is hard to keep clean with the poop, but what about water? I have still been moving it to their house at night.

The other piece is that I am still using a lamp from their brooder at night, through the ceiling of their house. It is about 2 feet about them, at the very top. This is the Pacific Northwest so it's mild but I think they need it while they sleep. We have lows for the night in the upper 40s. However their water is warm by morning so I know they aren't drinking it probably beyond the first few hours I put it in there. The last few nights I've brought their water in the run right over and drink it frantically. They must be wanting to be in bed but still thirsty?

 

[Judy]

They won't eat or drink at night as adults, but they are ready to do both at the crack of dawn. We know they eat and drink at night as young chicks. I don't know when this changes over; probably different for different flocks.

I keep food and water in the coop, really for my convenence. People do both. Indoors, the feed may draw mice, and outdoors, it may spoil from getting moist from blown in rain, for example. In a small coop, it gives them more indoor space to have them outside. Even nests don't necessarily have to be in the coop. Just depends on our setup; whatever works best for you.

There is no reason to have a light in the coop at night. They don't need the warmth any more. It's best if the coop gets light and dark naturally, same as the outdoors. They certainly won't need heat in that climate. Chickens have a good warm coat of their own, 40 isn't cold to a chicken, and indeed have a whole lot more trouble with summer than winter, when shade and a good breeze become a necessity. Providing heat prevents them from getting acclimated to usual weather, which can cause them problems if the power goes out on a cold night.

 

[chickpea77]

Well, it looks like I've created a heat lamp dependency! I read your response and then checked out other posts about heat lamps and realized they've had it way too long, and so I went in and turned it off. It was a few hours before dark. When I went to check on them before bed they were huddled in a cuddle pile, quivering and cooing, seeming very afraid. Like refusing to roost and acting like scared little birds. So I caved and turned the light back on for the night. I don't want to upset the balance since I saw my australorp Barbara sneeze yesterday and have been putting crushed up garlic and apple cider vinegar in their water ever since to help prevent any illness in the flock. My plan is to turn it off first thing in the morning and hope they figure out how to relax by dusk!