Where feeder should be - pros and cons

[Bishopalready]

I have just completed the 2nd week of Chicken Grannyhood. I have to change my mind about a few things. I vote the feed and water should be in the run. Keep that coop as clean as possible. My ladies get wacky and slap the feed bucket if we come and collect eggs and they don't get a snack. Well they can slap away, treats are just that, and not meals. Just like dogs don't eat human food. (Ok, I lied! Forgive me!) I spoil them.

 

[rosemarythyme]

When you say you remove all feed at night does that include food in the run?

The feed in my run is fermented feed, so the flock eats all of that up in the morning, and we take in the empty bowls in the early afternoon. So there's food in the run for a relatively short period of time each day. As my run is not predator or pest proof, I would not leave feed out overnight in the run.

I would assume hanging water in the coop is ok? I can’t leave an animal with no water overnight, that just seems cruel & unusual.

That's up to you. I want my coop bone dry, so water is outside. The chickens have access to water starting from 7:45 AM.

Water access is more crucial in hotter environments.

 

[Devorah]

The feed in my run is fermented feed, so the flock eats all of that up in the morning, and we take in the empty bowls in the early afternoon. So there's food in the run for a relatively short period of time each day. As my run is not predator or pest proof, I would not leave feed out overnight in the run.


That's up to you. I want my coop bone dry, so water is outside. The chickens have access to water starting from 7:45 AM.

Water access is more crucial in hotter environments.

Hi there! I am also planning on feeding my chicks fermented feed. A couple of questions for you.

• Can I give it to them as a “supplement” to their regular feed (and when they are still little as a supplement to their regular crumbles)?
• How much do you give them each day?
• Can I start giving them the fermented feed when they are newborns?

It is awesome to hear that you ferment their feed! (I’m a sourdough baker so have a thing for fermentation …)

 

[RubelliteRose]

I think that’s going to be the plan! I’m going to start off with a simple arrangement (hanging feeder in run overnight) and then see what happens. The run is very secure (and will have poultry netting surrounding it). So we shall see … thanks!

I just thought of one additional consideration that I don't believe has been brought up- how close is your coop to your house? My coop is within 50 feet of my house, so I really don't want to attract rodents with food in the run overnight. If your coop is much farther away, attracting mice toward your house would not be an issue.

 

[Devorah]

I just thought of one additional consideration that I don't believe has been brought up- how close is your coop to your house? My coop is within 50 feet of my house, so I really don't want to attract rodents with food in the run overnight. If your coop is much farther away, attracting mice toward your house would not be an issue.

Good morning! Our coop is in a barn which is some 100 or so yards from our house (would have to measure …). We just finished renovating and reinforcing the run so it is pretty secure. I’m not sure where I would put the feeder at night. I could put it in a galvanized bin in the barn, but that is even less secure than the run. Maybe I just need to accept the fact that I am living in the country …

 

[RubelliteRose]

Good morning! Our coop is in a barn which is some 100 or so yards from our house (would have to measure …). We just finished renovating and reinforcing the run so it is pretty secure. I’m not sure where I would put the feeder at night. I could put it in a galvanized bin in the barn, but that is even less secure than the run. Maybe I just need to accept the fact that I am living in the country …

For what it is worth, my daughter has kept her horse feed in heavy duty plastic trash cans with tightly secured lids for the past year and a half. The trash cans are in a large hay shed without a door. So far, neither rats, mice, or raccoons have gotten into the cans. We would probably secure them behind a locked door if we had bear though.

 

[MarkRainbolt]

I am going to use Grandpa’s feeder. I really like the concept of the design. It will feed 12 chickens for 10 days, which makes it very handy if I have to leave home for a few days.
Mark

 

[TropicalBabies]

I have a grandpa's feeder, and 3 feeders with the deep attachments or 2" PVC elbows and I keep them in their run, available 24/7 under cover- more for the wild birds They are raised on stumps w/ a slightly smaller diamention than the base of feeders so critters don't seem to make it up and in to camp. The only time I had a mouse get in is when my feeder was lowered for young chicks.
So hanging a feeder would be terrific, I just have not YET.

I have 5 cats who I let roam the run and garden at night. With the spillage of feed, plus compost, plus, plus, plus. I think my cats are my best method of control, they hangout on top of coops and in runs all night. That and trapping when needed. I'd rather have critters in the runs, not the coops, if at all.

 

[rosemarythyme]

• Can I give it to them as a “supplement” to their regular feed (and when they are still little as a supplement to their regular crumbles)?
• How much do you give them each day?
• Can I start giving them the fermented feed when they are newborns?

Yes you can use it to supplement their "usual" feed - I feed fermented in the morning but leave dry feed out all day.

As far as amount, "it depends." I'd start small and see how much they eat, and adjust from there. As a point of reference I put out maybe about 4 cups of FF in the morning, for 10 hens, and it's gone in a few hours.

No reason you can't try FF on chicks, though since I start my chicks on dry feed (as I want feed available all waking hours for them) they're not eager to try the "new" wet or fermented feed and I usually have to offer it repeatedly before they'll try it. As I have hens I don't worry about it going to waste (the hens will happily eat it) - otherwise I'd make it in very tiny batches at first, until I knew the chicks would eat it, just to avoid waste.

 

[MACCanadianCoop]

Yes you can use it to supplement their "usual" feed - I feed fermented in the morning but leave dry feed out all day.

As far as amount, "it depends." I'd start small and see how much they eat, and adjust from there. As a point of reference I put out maybe about 4 cups of FF in the morning, for 10 hens, and it's gone in a few hours.

No reason you can't try FF on chicks, though since I start my chicks on dry feed (as I want feed available all waking hours for them) they're not eager to try the "new" wet or fermented feed and I usually have to offer it repeatedly before they'll try it. As I have hens I don't worry about it going to waste (the hens will happily eat it) - otherwise I'd make it in very tiny batches at first, until I knew the chicks would eat it, just to avoid waste.

This is good to know. I'm planning to provide unlimited dry feed but also supplement with ff and sprouted grains when I can. My morning routine is busy enough as it is that I don't want to commit myself to ff *every* day.