Waters~In or Out

[Chick_in_Indiana]

I have always kept my waterer in the coop. But lately my chicks 3months and 2 months have been trashing it w/ straw and poo. Would it be okay if I moved it outside or would they go thirsty thru the night?

 

[chickflick]

I have them both indoors and outdoors. They need to have water at all times.....

 

[sara]

I keep my water in the runs. That way the bedding stays dry in the coop. They roost all night so I don't see that they need to have it in the coop.

 

[chcknrs]

I keep the water in the run and another outside, for when they are free ranging.

 

[newbiecaroline]

Do you have the waterer raised high enough off the floor?

 

[Chick_in_Indiana]

Quote:
It's about 6 inches up with a rubber pan under it. I could raise it high if I put steping stones around it for the smaller ones to sit on while they drink but that's just more stuff for them to poo on.

 

[Chirpy]

I also have a waterer inside the hen house and one outside in the run area.

Can you hang it from the ceiling making the bottom level with the chickens back height? Doing that has kept all the poo out of mine. They do sometimes still get bedding kicked up into it... they must have pajama parties at night ... I can see the shavings flying.!

If they do go into roost by themselves every night and they are let out literally at first day light in the morning then you wouldn't have to have a waterer inside because they would be sleeping the whole time inside. Most people don't want to get up at 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. to let their chickens out.

Another option is to spend the money and get an automatic pophole door opener that will open at the break of dawn.

 

[Love my Critters!]

Dear Chirpy:
What kind of door are you talking about? Where can I get one of those? That sounds great, I wouldn't get "yelled" at in the morning for not getting out there until about 7. My guys are so impatient!!!

 

[Chirpy]

Love my Critters ... heres' one. I'm looking for another one that I've heard of ... I'll see if I can find a link and give that to you also.
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catalog/2100-2107.html

People that have these love them - I wish I had one, I just don't have the money.

You set the timer for the door to close just after sundown so all the chickens have already gone into roost and set it to open a sunup. OR, you can get the ones that use a light sensor to know when to close and open.

Looking... looking ....

Ok, I can't find the other source right now but I'll keep looking. I would suggest that you use the "Search" function at the top of this page and type in 'automatic' you should get some good info on these doors.

Ah hah!! I found it... I've talked with people who use this one and everybody has loved it. The only downsides (besides the cost) have been that one guys dog kept trying to get into the door and jambed the door runners so it wouldn't go down, one guy said that once when they had a really, really windy day the door jambed part of the way down (only happened once and has worked for many months since then).

http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/door_opener.htm

 

[GlacierNan]

I think I remember reading about the auto door being available thru Foy's Pigeon Supply.
Google probably has the website.

I want one sooo badly...