Where feeder should be - pros and cons

[3KillerBs]

That’s a beautiful coop!

I am probably going to put at least two

I might have gone with only one if the old doors we were using weren't already warped.

2 makes for double security.

 

[MACCanadianCoop]

2 is a good idea. I volunteer at donkey Sanctuary. Donkeys, like racoons, are smart and crafty. Every gate/door has two locking mechanisms. Gotta outsmart them.

 

[SilverBirds]

SilverBirds, what kind of hanging feeder do you have? picture?

Okay, finally got pictures!

They hang about one foot or so off the ground. Mice can't climb up or down to get into the feed. Mine are sorta in the coop so they are protected from the rain but I'm pretty sure the buckets are water proof.

 

[Krugerrand]

Okay, finally got pictures!

They hang about one foot or so off the ground. Mice can't climb up or down to get into the feed. Mine are sorta in the coop so they are protected from the rain but I'm pretty sure the buckets are water proof.

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Are they suspended only to block mice? or, are there any other benefits to that over putting them up on blocks?

 

[SilverBirds]

Are they suspended only to block mice? or, are there any other benefits to that over putting them up on blocks?

It's easier for them to reach and stick their heads in. I have one lower for my bantys and a higher one for my standards.

 

[RubelliteRose]

Okay, finally got pictures!

They hang about one foot or so off the ground. Mice can't climb up or down to get into the feed. Mine are sorta in the coop so they are protected from the rain but I'm pretty sure the buckets are water proof.

View attachment 3069847
View attachment 3069840

Great idea! We have 2 of the same type of feeder, but on blocks. Yesterday I went out to the run about 15 minutes after all chickens went to bed and caught a mouse trying to get into the feeder Normally I am outside just before they go into the coop for the night and start taking the feeders out of the run.
Any issues with chickens sitting on top of the buckets or is it unstable enough that they don't stay up there? I'm thinking of stealing your idea

 

[SilverBirds]

Great idea! We have 2 of the same type of feeder, but on blocks. Yesterday I went out to the run about 15 minutes after all chickens went to bed and caught a mouse trying to get into the feeder Normally I am outside just before they go into the coop for the night and start taking the feeders out of the run.
Any issues with chickens sitting on top of the buckets or is it unstable enough that they don't stay up there? I'm thinking of stealing your idea

In the old coop they sat on blocks but I like them hanging better. They used to try and jump on them but they are were to unbalanced and would hop back off.

 

[3KillerBs]

Are they suspended only to block mice? or, are there any other benefits to that over putting them up on blocks?

It's easier to adjust feeder height to different sizes of chicken and they don't knock them over to protest feed getting low.

 

[BDutch]

I keep the food and one water bottle in the coop/run combination. Two bowls with feed are in the small attached run which has 1 cm hwc and a solid roof. No mice come in there to steal the food. Only snails come in there when its warm and wet.

In the morning after sunset the chickens can go to a larger more open, with netting covered run, through a auto- pop door. This is not a good place for food. Bc the hwc/netting is not optimised and keeping food there can (did) attract mice and rats.

 

[Stonernextdoor88]

We keep our feeders in the run. The only time I have put a feeder in the coop is during weather so severe that the chickens don't leave the coop. Our run is predator proof, so we don't worry about them. To keep mice out of the food, we remove our feeders at night and store them in a large sealed plastic tote on the back porch. So far, the mice haven't found a way in the tote

Newbie here... Do they not eat or drink at night when in the coop?