Roost and food/water questions

[mountainlover]

1) how far from the roost would I need to hang feed and water to keep it from being pooped all over?
2) do they need food/water both in the coop AND out, or would just out be ok??

Also, any suggestion on where to put my roost and food/water (if I need in coop) in a 4x6 coop, where back long wall no access, front long wall double doors, left short wall exterior nest boxes, short right wall pop door toward back.

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Thank you!

 

[FFAChickenFan]

1) Chances are no matter where you put it there will still be some poop that you'll have to clean off- thats just a part of raising chickens When you ask where to hang it, are you referring to height off the ground or distance from the coop? Because the distance from the coop will not make too much of a difference, whereas height off the ground will make it harder for them to muck it up as much.

2) Chickens are smart, they'll know to go outside to get food and water if thats where you choose to put it. However, if you're planning on having young chicks inside the coop any time soon, it wouldnt be a bad idea to put a nipple waterer and some starter inside. Otherwise, dont worry about it.

I would locate the nests in a place where it would be easiest to access for you and the chickens. Leave some room so that two chickens can pass by each other when leaving/exiting the coop, and try to face the nests towards the door/opening from which you plan to collect eggs. Personally, I would put the nests along the longest wall with a door/plank to the right for the chickens to go in, and then a door to open up from the outside on the opposite wall from the nests. How many chickens do you plan on keeping? Is space going to be an issue?

 

[duckman14]

I put my roost in about the only place I could, then I put a poop board under my roost and the food and water is under the poop board. I have never had any poop in the food or water.

 

[chfite]

I keep the water outside to allow any spillage to be on the ground. I keep the feed inside to protect it from the weather. I doubt that the chickens eat or drink at night. They are so somnolent when I open the coop at night that it strikes me that they are zoned out.

I have the feeder in the center of the coop, so no one is roosting over it. Just the same, they find their way to the top and poop on the top. Chickens are just messy.

Chris