where does the food go?

[Sugar Sand Farm]

I keep their food inside the coop I also have their water in there. They also have a dishpan full of water in the run. I find the water stays cooler inside even during the summer. I keep the dish pan full an they like to step into it to cool off (of course these are grown chickens) Doesn't your feed get full of ants if you leave it outside that was always my main concern and it would attract flies.

 

[shaggy]

thanks ... i see it

nice setup

 

[fshinggrl]

Right now food/water is in... but soon the food will come out but water will remain in... in the winter, food and water will be in.

 

[nwgirl]

To minimize rodent population we'll keep the food and water inside and also keep some water outside in the run along with an table scraps that can be eaten in a short amount of time.

 

[AngieChick]

Quote:
I pity the poor ant/fly that would dare get in my girls' feed. The girls would see it as a tasty bonus. Ditto for any mouse. We did have a rat get in their run one time, though the food was not in there that night. I had used chicken wire for the roof of the run instead of hardware cloth. Guess what I got to do the next day in the rain? Spend all day putting up hardware cloth all along the roof

Since then, we have had no rats whatsoever.

 

[chickenfever]

Quote:
They shouldn't need water in the coop at night, even if locked in. As far as I know my chickens do not leave the coop at night and go drink. When they bed down, it is for the night. You would just want to make sure you are letting them out early in the morning.