Spilling water all over coop

[Baysidegal]

My girls are 7 weeks old. They are in their coop at night. I’ve hung water from the lowest roost so they have water at night but in the morning the coop is WET! I end up throwing out all the wet shavings into the yard.
The roosts are still clean which indicates to me they are NOT roosting yet. Any suggestions for water in the coop or should I just forget it?

 

[RobertaD1]

They dont need water in the coop at night. If your coop is small, take it out. They wont drink at night, but they will spill it as they jostle for positions before roosting.

 

[Teresa D]

My girls are 7 weeks old. They are in their coop at night. I’ve hung water from the lowest roost so they have water at night but in the morning the coop is WET! I end up throwing out all the wet shavings into the yard.
The roosts are still clean which indicates to me they are NOT roosting yet. Any suggestions for water in the coop or should I just forget it?

Watch a you tube video from a lady guildebrad

My girls are 7 weeks old. They are in their coop at night. I’ve hung water from the lowest roost so they have water at night but in the morning the coop is WET! I end up throwing out all the wet shavings into the yard.
The roosts are still clean which indicates to me they are NOT roosting yet. Any suggestions for water in the coop or should I just forget it?

guildbrook farms has a you tube video that helped me so so much . I do put water in and out of their coop. The video shows how to make a dry coop by using a shallow rubber maid or sterilite tub, two pieces of wood and some chicken wire and the chicks learn how to hop up on and drink and eat keeps the box or coop clean. I still use this method in my coop and I've never had a wet coop.

 

[Cryss]

Water isn’t good inside a coop. They don’t drink at night, it’s dark and they won’t move if they can’t see. They eat and drink outdoors. They usually only go indoors to lay eggs and to sleep. The same is true for food. It attracts critters. Food should be brought into your house at night.

 

[Teresa D]

Watch a you tube video from a lady guildebrad

guildbrook farms has a you tube video that helped me so so much . I do put water in and out of their coop. The video shows how to make a dry coop by using a shallow rubber maid or sterilite tub, two pieces of wood and some chicken wire and the chicks learn how to hop up on and drink and eat keeps the box or coop clean. I still use this method in my coop and I've never had a wet coop.

Now I hang their food and water above this so still no problems. In this picture the food isn't there I was filling it but you can see the hook next to the water.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What does your waterer look like? There are many different kinds. A photo of your set-up could help solve that problem.

Hanging it under the roosts probably isn't a great idea. They will poop in it from the roosts. Again a photo of your set-up might help.

Some people feed and water in the coop. Some feed and water in the run. I do both. There are different reasons for all of those. I don't know enough about your set-up or management practices to know what is best for you. But I agree with the others that if it is dark in there, they will not be drinking at night.

They are 7 weeks old. My brooder-raised chicks typically start to sleep on the roosts at night around 10 to 12 weeks of age if there are no adults around. I've had some broods start as young as 5 weeks, some wait a lot longer, but 10 to 12 weeks is a good average for mine. I think the way mine is set up has something to do with that. Just be patient, they will move up there when they are ready.

 

[NatJ]

They dont need water in the coop at night.

Depends on how soon they are let out in the morning.
I agree they do not drink while sleeping--but they do drink when they wake up.

So if they are let out at sunrise, water outside is fine.
But if they are cooped up until noon, they need water inside.
Reality in most flocks is in between those times, but I do not know for the flock under discussion.

 

[Teresa D]

They dont need water in the coop at night. If your coop is small, take it out. They wont drink at night, but they will spill it as they jostle for positions before roosting.

I have heard both ways. My girls are now 20 weeks and we are doing fine, if i don't get out in the morning they are already eating and drinking.

 

[RobertaD1]

Depends on how soon they are let out in the morning.
I agree they do not drink while sleeping--but they do drink when they wake up.

So if they are let out at sunrise, water outside is fine.
But if they are cooped up until noon, they need water inside.
Reality in most flocks is in between those times, but I do not know for the flock under discussion.

You are right. I assume they all get out early.

 

[aart]

What does your waterer look like? There are many different kinds. A photo of your set-up could help solve that problem.

This^^^ Please @Baysidegal

I use this in the coop, because with early morning supplemental light in the winter they are up way before me. No spills, no evaporation, easy to heat.