Water in coop at night

[wilhiteranch]

Quote:
You dont think keeping food in the coops at night would attract rats?

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

Quote:
You dont think keeping food in the coops at night would attract rats?

Their coop is pretty well secured. Only way in would be if the pop door was left open and I always close it once the last girl goes in. I also check on the gals after their timed light goes out. I could take the food out and replace in the morning before I head to work just to be really safe.

 

[effie]

ok, I will ask again as I didn't get an answer on another thread---if you are feeding outside instead of in the coop --what are your arrangements for feeding outside--I am interested as I feed and water in the coop. I have a feeder that hangs from the ceiling that I keep full for my girls--if I put that feeder outside, then what?-take it in at night somewhere???--put a little roof over it so it doesn't get rain in it??? When we put them in at night, is that it for food and water till I let them out till the next day??? I have rats now that I am battling since I have a dirt floor--we put the board walls pretty far into the dirt but they still dig under--this is all gonna be done with in the next couple of weeks as we are building a new coop 3 ft. off the ground to be rat,mice and snake proof. I still think my feeding and watering will be inside--if I move things to the run then I am just moving that problem from the coop to the run.

 

[gale65]

Quote:
Right now we feed inside, but I just ordered a little trigger thing to make an auto-feeder from ebay. It was posted on another thread. The feed is totally enclosed in a covered bucket and they hit this trigger to make a little feed fall out. Not sure if rats wouldn't be attracted to it but it would be less likely, I think.

 

[wilhiteranch]

Quote:
You dont think keeping food in the coops at night would attract rats?

Their coop is pretty well secured. Only way in would be if the pop door was left open and I always close it once the last girl goes in. I also check on the gals after their timed light goes out. I could take the food out and replace in the morning before I head to work just to be really safe.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/66234_img_0840.jpg

Now that is a CUTE coop

that's like their own big house

 

[NYRIR]

I always have feed in the coop at all times...the water is outside.Even in the winter it is outside as I have a heated water base and fill it daily.In summer we have more waterers available throughout the yard and some more feeders.I used to have water in the coop but found they were spilling it by bumping it. I know humidity in the coop is bad so decided to leave the water out.I let them out at 7 30 am so the crowing does not disturb anyone too early

All of mine are healthy and fine...lay well.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

You dont think keeping food in the coops at night would attract rats?

Even if you took it out every night, there will be enough spilled to attract them.

Rats and mice will also eat during the day if no one is around​

 

[stilldeb]

We pick up food and water at night when the chickens go to bed and put it back out as soon as they get up early in the morning. We don't sleep late, so they don't have to wait for it and don't keep either in the coop. They never go inside except to lay eggs and sleep or during a really bad storm, and their runs are covered. The food is all refilled and fresh and the water containers washed and refilled in the morning. (but we only have 21 bantam chickens)

deb g

P.S. LOVE your coop picture!!

 

[wilhiteranch]

Quote:
Even if you took it out every night, there will be enough spilled to attract them.

Rats and mice will also eat during the day if no one is around

Right my idea was to leave food and water in the run bringing the food into the house at night, seeing that they probably will just go in the their coop to sleep.