Should i put feed and water in the coop?

[lagondiechooks]

Hi
My chicks are now five weeks old and are in the coop at night and in the run at daytime. Can't believe how fast they have feathered out! With my grown hens I never fed or watered in the coop as they only went in to roost, but the some of chicks are still learning to perch and spend much of the time on the coop floor (there are various height roosts in the coop and when they are bigger I will start lifting them on at night until they get the hang of it!)
Should I feed and water them in the coop now? they are put to bed around 8.30 pm and let out at 7am. Up to now I have been putting food and water in, but they mostly just knock it over or fill it with bedding! (it is raised, but still!)
Thanks for the advice!

 

[Circle W Farms]

I feed and water in the run so I don't have the mess in the coop. I hang both of them and just adjust them as needed for growth of chicks. The water still gets dirty but I believe it always will. I just change it daily.

 

[debid]

I keep the food/water inside because my run isn't wild bird proof and the last thing I want is to buy chick crumble for the sparrows. I use hanging feeders and nipple waterers.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

I think it is always good to have water in the coop for night, so in the morning, if they are thirsty its there. I don't see a need to have it in there in the day, if its outside, as long as the chicks are going out.

 

[Ridgerunner]

People do it different ways. Some feed and water in the coop, some in the run, and some do both. We all have different reasons to justify what we do. There is no right or wrong answer to this.

Are you currently integrating those chicks with the older hens? If you are I'd suggest feeding and watering both inside and outside until they are totally integrated. The older chickens can be pretty bad about keeping the chicks away from food and water, it's intimidation and part of the pecking order. They can be bullies. If you are not currently integrating them then you can do it any way you wish.

If you could post some photos of how you are feeding and watering we may be able to offer some suggestions that could help. Some of that will depend on what type of feeders and waterers you are using and some on what your coop looks like.

 

[lazy gardener]

I keep some water in the coop. We've installed an auto close pop door, and it has failed on 2 occasions, so... a good idea to have a back up plan available so they can get a sip if the door fails to open before I notice it. I also keep water in there now b/c I'm integrating pullets, and a lot of them like to hang out in the coop. If an old biddy blocks the pop door, the pullets need water access. I'm putting FF in multiple locations for all birds, and the youngsters are doing well pushing their way into the feeders with the big girls.

 

[lagondiechooks]

People do it different ways. Some feed and water in the coop, some in the run, and some do both. We all have different reasons to justify what we do. There is no right or wrong answer to this.

Are you currently integrating those chicks with the older hens? If you are I'd suggest feeding and watering both inside and outside until they are totally integrated. The older chickens can be pretty bad about keeping the chicks away from food and water, it's intimidation and part of the pecking order. They can be bullies. If you are not currently integrating them then you can do it any way you wish.

If you could post some photos of how you are feeding and watering we may be able to offer some suggestions that could help. Some of that will depend on what type of feeders and waterers you are using and some on what your coop looks like.

 

[lagondiechooks]

Thank you! No older hens - we were starting afresh after a fox attack last year (run now resembles alcatraz, so fingers crossed)....will try and remember to post some pics....