Waterer Inside the Coop at Night????

[9ByDesign]

We live in Florida and are first time chicken owners/ coop builders. Finalizing the coop this week.

Our coop has attached run (which the chickens are in all day unless free- ranging for an hour late in the day). Do we need to put Water/ Food INSIDE of the closed coop for closing the hens up at night? Do they need to eat/ drink during the night if they have free access all day?

Thanks.

 

[mdbokc]

24/7 Food and water here.

 

[ArizonaNessa]

Technically they are sleeping and don't need it BUT if for any reason including those totally out of your control, you are not able to open that pop door and let them out and they have no food or water then it's bye bye birdy. I would highly recommend making food and water available at all times, day and night.

Welcome to the world of chickens!

 

[churchx3]

Food and water inside coop 24 / 7. Place my waterer on cinder blocks and stays relatively clean.

 

[delfargo]

doesn't everyone wake up in the middle of the night for a drink of water and maybe a little snack?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I keep food and water only in the run, after 6 weeks of age (none in the coops). I had a HUGE mold problem before I did this. I remove all food at night. It solved all my problems with bullying over food inside the coops, fuzzy mold under the waterers, and spilled feed everywhere inside the coops.

Everyone gets along fine with several feeding stations in the run- just pecking order stuff.

My layers are laying great, and my younger ones are gaining weight and growing fine.

 

[Aapomp831]

We live in Florida and are first time chicken owners/ coop builders. Finalizing the coop this week.

Our coop has attached run (which the chickens are in all day unless free- ranging for an hour late in the day). Do we need to put Water/ Food INSIDE of the closed coop for closing the hens up at night? Do they need to eat/ drink during the night if they have free access all day?

Thanks.

No need for water on the coop overnight. Chickens can’t see in the dark so it’s pointless anyway. As long as you tend to your flock first thing in the morning, they will be fine.

 

[Alycat23]

We keep all available at all times too. We've got a group feeder for the food that we put underneath a raised portion of the coop so rain won't ruin it. Then we have 2 5-Gallon Lowe's buckets that we've fashioned with nipples - one stays hanging in the coop at all times and the other is on a deck for when they're free ranging during the day. The coop door stays open during the day, so they can always get to the food, but I usually spread a little on the grass so they can hunt for it.

 

[swimmer]

I would keep it in there for the same reasons. Especially for morning if the chickens are up before you and want a drink or to eat.

 

[Kittymomma]

I agree with the others. The water especially can be mess though so give some thought to its placement. I goofed when I first started and had it sitting where they flew/dropped into it when coming off the roost

If you invest in an automatic pop door you can just leave it in the run. I still would keep the food in the coop though since wild birds aren't as likely to find it when it's inside. Many people do take the food out at nite though, mainly because of problems with rodents.