water in the coop overnight?

[meadowsong]

I haven't been leaving any water in the coop at night either.

I plan to in the winter when the days are shorter.

 

[Fuzzbuttfarm]

I have two waterers. One in the coop and one outside. The kids are definitely drinking water at night, when it's hot.

 

[Equus5O]

I'm fairly chicken ignorant, although I have 10 of the little beasties.

I keep a large hanging waterer out in the run, and a smaller hanging one in the coop. There's a dish of feed in the coop, as well.

I don't believe that my beasties are eating or drinking during the night, once they roost. If they're not settled in when I lock them in at night, they're mildly active, and will "snack" some.

I know that they are up earlier in the morning than when they're turned out from the coop, and I don't doubt that they are using the waterer and feed dish before they get out in the morning, And, when I lock them in again in the evening, the feed dish is empty and the waterer is lower and dirty. They use the coop feed and water during the day, as well as the run feed and water.

 

[ocalicreek]

I have been contemplating getting another watering device (thanks for the link to the nipple!) since my 2 chickens are getting older & larger. PLUS I see the wood shavings in their water still. I elevated it on an upside down flower pot and that seems to do the trick for keeping poop out (most of the time) but not the bedding.

I can see they drink at night and definately have breakfast or a midnight snack because the feeder is usually tipped over. It was a similar design to the waterer with the red plastic bottom and white plastic screw-on bottle. I gave up on the bottle and just used the tray portion.

They range quite a lot so I am cutting down on feed use there, but I still hate to see so much of it wasted once they tip it over. Should I just leave it outside their hutch at night? I don't want to encourage visits from local rodents any more than I have to.

Galen

 

[Gwen]

I'm tired of them knocking it all over as well and that's one reason I was thinking to take it out at night. They also make a huge mess of their grit.

I'd prefer they get most of their food from free ranging but they seem to prefer the easy food over scratching for it.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

I have my waterers in a tire rim, it fits perfectly and does not get knocked over. Some people put them up on concrete blocks or hang them. I keep a 3 gallon waterer in the coop and a 5gallon one in the run. Plus I have 2 5 gallon buckets filled with water for the geese/ducks to dunk their heads into along with a pool. Soooooo I maybe over do the water thing but I know everyone is happy!

 

[Mahlzeit]

I only have water outside in their run. Have had chickens for 7 years now with no problems. They don't actually drink at night. Once is dark they don't move its when they wake up that they would drink from it. But as long as you let them out in the morning you should have no problem at all.

 

[paridisefarm2009]

Thank you for that water jug idea ! that is nifty

 

[cmom]

I have feeders and waterers inside my coop and in their run. I did it orginally when I integrated my hens and pullets. The hens would try to block the pullets from the feeder and waterer in the coop.

 

[rainbowgardens]

I always keep water in the coop overnight. I worry that something could happen and no one would be around or thinking about the chickens in an emergency.

Of course, I also keep the toilet seats up for the cats and dog in case something happens. They can go for a while without food, but not as long without water.