Where do I put the feeders?

[PD-Riverman]

I don't have a rat problem that I know of sooo I guess I had better put the food away at night I had not thought of that. My chicks are about 8 weeks now so I have been free feeding them when do I start to control feed them?

Thanks Mraya

Now, if they are in the yard. Control the amount so when they go in at night most all the feed is gone including whats on the dirt so you are not feeding rats, etc at night. Never NOT give them enough---but do not give them to much so your feeder is half full and the ground covered. I do it like this so they clean up the spilt and I do not have to collect feeders at night----Keep in Mind now-----I had 67 occupied chicken pens some time back---spilt feed in everyone of them adds up to a lot of wasted feed if they do not clean it up. With one coop/feeder---you would not have so much to worry about, but "I" would still control the amount so its not wasted---or feeding other things.

 

[Mraya]

Now, if they are in the yard. Control the amount so when they go in at night most all the feed is gone including whats on the dirt so you are not feeding rats, etc at night. Never NOT give them enough---but do not give them to much so your feeder is half full and the ground covered. I do it like this so they clean up the spilt and I do not have to collect feeders at night----Keep in Mind now-----I had 67 occupied chicken pens some time back---spilt feed in everyone of them adds up to a lot of wasted feed if they do not clean it up. With one coop/feeder---you would not have so much to worry about, but "I" would still control the amount so its not wasted---or feeding other things.

Here is a picture of my coop and run. I hang my feeder the chicks can only poke their heads in so I get very little waste (not that you can tell with all the leaves)
so I guess I'll put in a couple of cups at a time.

Thanks Mraya

 

[PD-Riverman]

so I guess I'll put in a couple of cups at a time.

Thanks Mraya

Remember, that's your call and how you want to feed your chickens is your business. I just Have to control the amount of feed for mine so I do not have such a big waste and drawing rats etc with that waste. 67 pens is a huge amount of feed. I was doing 750 to 1000lb a week at times.

 

[Mraya]

Remember, that's your call and how you want to feed your chickens is your business. I just Have to control the amount of feed for mine so I do not have such a big waste and drawing rats etc with that waste. 67 pens is a huge amount of feed. I was doing 750 to 1000lb a week at times.

I am thinking about the rats and wouldn't you know it my dog just caught a mice that was around my shed where I keep all the chicken food. I like the Idea of giving them enough and not attracting any vermin or wasting the food and keeping my food in metal bins. I have enough mouths to feed.
Thing you for giving me food for thought.

Mraya

PS WOW that is a lot of feed!!!!!

 

[DLE140]

I keep the water out in their covered run using horizontal chicken nipples and their food in the coop in one of the no waste feeders. Works good for me and the girls

 

[PD-Riverman]

I keep the water out in their covered run using horizontal chicken nipples and their food in the coop in one of the no waste feeders. Works good for me and the girls

Can I ask, what type of feeder you got that is a no-waste----does it work good? Got a pic or link? Thanks

 

[DLE140]

Sorry it don't have a pic. It's made with 3" 90 degree pvc elbows and a 5 gallon plastic bucket and lid. If you do a search here under no waste feeder it should come up and yes it works very well for my Rhode Island Reds

 

[dawnd13]

I have My feeders and water outside. This year I have one feeder inside because I introduced new chicks. I was going to remove it, but the chicks like to go in the coop during the day and eat there where it is out of the sun in the mornings. I had water in there, but it was always a mess so I took it out. I have the food on one side and the water on the side that is shady in the afternoon. Both are protected from the rain/snow, but we'll see what happens itch the summer thunderstorms. My girls all drink before they retire for the night, so I don't worry about water inside. The pop door opens at 5am right now so they can go outside when ready.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I have My feeders and water outside. This year I have one feeder inside because I introduced new chicks. I was going to remove it, but the chicks like to go in the coop during the day and eat there where it is out of the sun in the mornings. I had water in there, but it was always a mess so I took it out. I have the food on one side and the water on the side that is shady in the afternoon. Both are protected from the rain/snow, but we'll see what happens itch the summer thunderstorms. My girls all drink before they retire for the night, so I don't worry about water inside. The pop door opens at 5am right now so they can go outside when ready.

Shade---if it doesn't bother you(looks) I, my wife, mother in law buy a lot of used/stained sheets from yardsales---really look for the queen/king to use for shade. I hang them on the side of the pen and/or across the top to make shade for my chickens. Some people will throw away those 10x10 pop-up tops---everyone is using now for events----I grab the free/cheap ones that the frame is good on but top is bad--you can take a king size sheet----tie the 4 corners in a knot close to the corner and they fit perfect on these 10x10's I tie the 4 corners with a string or wire to keep them on---the sheets will usually last for the summer----Not water proof but a shade for the chickens.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I keep feed, oyster shell and water in raised coop, , I also keep water and Granite grit under coop, , and I put a gallon pan in pen during the summer, that they can wade in if they want. GC