uneaten feed may attract nocturnal omnivores to your roosting fowl

[centrarchid]

About half my flock free ranges and I do have oppossum traffic. The oppossums can certainly catch and eat chickens after dark if they can find and get to them. The oppossum(s) frequenting my yard seem to be attracted to feeding stations. Anyone with free ranging birds making effort to feed stations away from coops / roosting areas?

 

[CMV]

Yes. I go one step further and make sure most or all feed is put away at night. I have some bear traffic wandering through, so I do not want to tempt them to get into my runs. Nothing can get to my birds at night, but a large animal like a bear can sure wreak some havoc on my run fences. I'd prefer not to have to fix them when it takes just an extra minute to ensure the feed is put away and not sitting out as a tempting treat for passing wildlife.

 

[andythescot]

I put my feeder in the coop every night... and then hope that nothing major comes by to get the spilled stuff.