Where feeder should be - pros and cons

[Jaime918]

Thanks - yes - I love this kind of feeder. But can’t small critters crawl in there and go nuts? That’s my dilemma (I have a run protected from the elements).

They also make these with screw on caps for at night to keep things out.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

A simpler way to think about this is when do your chickens need to eat and where will they be at that time? They don't eat at night so they don't need food in the coop. Don't worry about mice getting into a feeder during the day because chances are your chickens will go after them in that case. I have feeders with legs so the food is up off the ground and I take them in at night. Ditto the water. If its raining I put the food in the covered part of the run. You will have to do what works best for you and your setup.

 

[nuthatched]

My feeders are in the coop but I'm an exception, I'm trying not to attract elk to bulldoze into my run.

 

[Devorah]

They also make these with screw on caps for at night to keep things out.

They do — but that creates the next issue : I’m thinking of installing an automatic coop door for convenience. If I do, I’ll have to wake up at the crack of dawn every day to take off those caps so the chickens can eat! Again — picking one’s battles …

 

[Devorah]

A simpler way to think about this is when do your chickens need to eat and where will they be at that time? They don't eat at night so they don't need food in the coop. Don't worry about mice getting into a feeder during the day because chances are your chickens will go after them in that case. I have feeders with legs so the food is up off the ground and I take them in at night. Ditto the water. If its raining I put the food in the covered part of the run. You will have to do what works best for you and your setup.

Thanks - and precisely! I’m leaning toward feed in the run for those reasons, but am now at a crossroads regarding the type of feeder in the run and considerations of an automatic coop door for convenience. If I install the automatic door, whatever feeder I get for the run cannot have a plug to keep out tiny critters at night since my babes will want to eat as soon as they get into the run.

I may be narrowing down my decision to one of those feeders with the deep openings since I also need to weigh in my preference for less feed waste on the ground …

So much to think about as a poultry parent!

 

[Devorah]

My feeders are in the coop but I'm an exception, I'm trying not to attract elk to bulldoze into my run.

Oh my! I guess a sign doesn’t work with them

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Thanks - and precisely! I’m leaning toward feed in the run for those reasons, but am now at a crossroads regarding the type of feeder in the run and considerations of an automatic coop door for convenience. If I install the automatic door, whatever feeder I get for the run cannot have a plug to keep out tiny critters at night since my babes will want to eat as soon as they get into the run.

I may be narrowing down my decision to one of those feeders with the deep openings since I also need to weigh in my preference for less feed waste on the ground …

So much to think about as a poultry parent!

I don't use an automatic door. My husband brought it up when we built the coop but I realized it can't count chickens and I'm going to be out there to get the food anyway so I might as well close the door while I'm there

 

[Jaime918]

They do — but that creates the next issue : I’m thinking of installing an automatic coop door for convenience. If I do, I’ll have to wake up at the crack of dawn every day to take off those caps so the chickens can eat! Again — picking one’s battles …

Ah, that's very true. I can't chime in on that issue. Mine don't get released until about 30 minutes after the sun has come over the mountains unless I'm already out there earlier. Our coyotes still go for a little while after sun up so everything is manual for us. Our coyotes have absolutely no fear.

 

[Devorah]

I don't use an automatic door. My husband brought it up when we built the coop but I realized it can't count chickens and I'm going to be out there to get the food anyway so I might as well close the door while I'm there

So you — or someone else — is at the coop every morning at dawn? That solves the automatic door issue!

 

[Devorah]

In the brooder I’ll m be starting my chicks off on the vertical nipples and will then transition them to the horizontal ones. Later in the coop, I’ll use the horizontal nipples in raised buckets. During the winter, I will use a heater so the water doesn’t freeze.

Oops. I meant to say when the chicks have graduated to the coop, I’ll be using the horizontal nipples in the run …