What if my coop is small?

[imamtgrandma2]

I just assembled my "Four Square" coop from MyPetChicken.com.
It is just big enough for 4 full grown chickens. My chicks are coming in mid-May.
Looking at the inside of the coop - I can't figure out WHERE I could put food AND water for the night.
I am working on a nipple system and COULD put one inside the coop but I don't think there is room to put food.
Do the chickens NEED food at night or can I just let them out into their enclosed run first thing in the morning to access their feeder?
I'm excited about this adventure and can hardly wait for my babies to arrive.
Any advice is appreciated.
We've already decided that we WILL build a bigger coop/run next Spring.

 

[hetty]

hi, we dont feed or leave water for ours at night. l do put a bit in their to get them to go to bed, our co-op is not big enough as we have 2 nesting boxes and 2 small perch,s close together and all 4 chickens sit on one perch very close together. cosy.
we are also new weve had ours for 2 months now, we thought the run attached to the coop was two small as our chickens are hugh and then hubby made another run to attach to that but it was not tall enough for me to get into properly, so this week end we made a run that was 12sq by 6ft high. and we live in town, our garden is only 30 mitres (100 ft by 30ft) by 10 mitres and we have a bench just outside for chicken tv, they are so much fun, to watch, to be around , each have there own personality and mine answer me back when I talk to them. lol! good luck and have lots of fun

 

[Debob]

I could see leaving the feed out but I'd want them to have water at all times.I have a 6x8 coop and I hang both up from the rafters.One at each end.

 

[detali]

When the chickens are up on their roost they don't need feed or water.

 

[AccioSarah]

Quote:
I recently just completed my coop that was just right for my 4... then I realized the food and water wouldn't fit. I wanted to keep the food and water inside to protect from the elements. So now I am adding an addition to the coop- sort of a kitchen for them.
Maybe someone else will have better advice!!

(I've heard that feeders that are square-ish in shape and hang from the wall work a little better for saving space- but need to be filled more often.)

Good luck!

 

[Mother of All]

I'm sorry but I let my girls there water and feed 24/7. but then again I don't close the door to their coops any more. they can go out to the enclosed run when ever they want. during the day I let them out of the run to free roam

 

[rancher hicks]

I don't get up at the crack of dawn, not to mention in winter they have to have food and water inside. Some days it's to cold and nasty to go out.

 

[Neilette]

I would hang the food and water under the coop box. You can buy hook screws at a hardware store for this purpose. If your waterer doesn't hang, just prop it up off the ground on a couple cinder blocks to keep the chooks from kicking anything in. The food will be sheltered from the elements, and if you hang the feeder closest to that big door then it'll be really easy to refill as necessary. Keeping containers outside also maximizes coop space.

Also, if you want to predator-proof the run without making the chickens walk on wire, attaching 12" of hardware cloth to the outside perimeter as a skirt will deter diggers! You don't even have to bury it; let the grass grow through for increased security! (Bonus: not having to wake up at 6 a.m. every morning to let the chickens out.)

Pretty coop!

Have fun with your new friends!

 

[Neilette]

Quote:
Not in Fresno!

 

[imamtgrandma2]

We're up at 5:30 - 6:00 every morning so getting out to the coop is no problem. We can't free range the chickens as we live in the mountains and have several predators including hawks.
Even when it's snowing here - I can still get out to the coop to let them out into the run which is covered and protected from the snow.
I just don't see room for food - hanging from the inside roof is out as that would lead to leaks.