Should food be placed inside the coop or out in the run???

[4sweetones]

We recently redesigned our coop and run to give our 4 girls lots of room. Now they have a much larger coop (6 ft x 12 ft) to sleep and nest in with doors that can be closed as well as a large outdoor space for the run (12 ft x 12 ft). (The original coop was teeny tiny from TSC)

Although we have not had an issue with rodents or insects, I am trying to be proactive and keep that from happening. As a fairly new chicken keeper, what do you recommend?

If the food is inside the coop, the chickens would have to climb the ladder and enter through their small door. Would that make a difference?

Thanks for any assistance!

 

[chicken_fun]

I'm really honestly not sure what is better but, I personally keep the food outside and we take it in a little shed at night (to keep animals out). But it really comes down to whatever works for you. But if you do keep it outside the food wont spill all over the coop, instead it just goes on the ground and the next day they can eat/clean up their mess.

 

[4sweetones]

I'm really honestly not sure what is better but, I personally keep the food outside and we take it in a little shed at night (to keep animals out). But it really comes down to whatever works for you. But if you do keep it outside the food wont spill all over the coop, instead it just goes on the ground and the next day they can eat/clean up their mess.

Thank you. That helps!

 

[City Farmer Jim]

I'm a newbie but here is my two cents. I have food and water in the coop 24/7 and have had no issues. They forage plus I have a 5 gallon pail feeder outside they can visit as they wish. Our coop floor 36 inches off the ground so that may help keep unwanted critters out plus we have an automatic door that closes at dark ...we have not had any issues(knock on wood) with feed inside the coop.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I keep feed and water in my raised coops, otherwise songbirds, chipmunks and squirrels would eat the feed. My pens are 2"x 4" welded wire and chain link, easy for them critters to access.
I have hanging feeders and my Barred Rocks clean up most of the spilled feed.

I only open the pop door during the day.
My coops are rodent proof when I close the pop door at night. GC

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Keeping food in the coop promotes rodents. You need a rodent plan regardless but things that slow the exponential growth of them in general is to keep food in run and take into shed, metal containers at night.

If you don't have some sort of plan to kill the rodents that do show up they will grow and by the time you know it's a problem you are completely inundated. Rats and mice in your house and more. Get a plan of action and the beginnings of one is to not keep feed available to them. I use tamper proof bait traps. Yes, chunk poison in plastic lock boxes. I put one in the run and other in shed where feed is stored. Those are to kill the rodents as they start to move in before they breed.

 

[GC-Raptor]

but things that slow the exponential growth of them in general is to keep food in run

So the rodents will still come at night and eat the spilled feed in the RUN.
At least they can't access my coops when I close the pop door.
Haven't seen rodents or droppings in my coop for 4 years and a year and a half in my newest coop. GC

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I'm merely informing the OP of a very real problem that is not spoke of until it's too late.

The bottom line is those without any rodent control effort are seen on these forums with hands in air wondering how to get rid of all the rats. Keeping livestock equates to rodent utopia. If you have no plan and have squeaked by for few years it only means the odds of next year being a plague are greater.

 

[rosemarythyme]

So the rodents will still come at night and eat the spilled feed in the RUN.
At least they can't access my coops when I close the pop door.
Haven't seen rodents or droppings in my coop for 4 years and a year and a half in my newest coop. GC

Same logic for me - I keep the feed inside the coop to protect it from the elements and also rodents. Even though I lock up I still remove the feeder at night to further dissuade rodents from coming in. I did used to have the feeder in the run and that's when I had rodent issues, because they'd come into the run to eat it - much easier accessing the run than the coop.

I keep water outside, to keep the coop bone dry.

 

[chicken_fun]

Thank you. That helps!

We do also keep a water inside as well.