Where feeder should be - pros and cons

[Lemon-Drop]

Hi everyone! I have read many posts about feeders as I embark on my chick journey (still waiting for their arrival this month!). Planning the coop and run phase of their lives, I am interested in what folks have to say about where the feeder should be — inside the coop or in the run.

While the consensus seems to be in the run (many saying never put food in the coop), I’m curious as to why since — to me — keeping food in the run would seem to attract predators. Thoughts?

This leads me to my second question: if the feeder is best kept in the run, which type of feeder is best to protect against the invasion of little critters? I have read that the feeders that have deep openings prevent feed waste. But can’t rodents jump inside and feast away?

Thank you so much for your feedback - it’s greatly appreciated!

I have regular metal feeder (attachment below) that I hang in the run under the covered area. I put it away at night, in a metal bin, then get it out in the morning.
I don’t want rodents in the coop, because they might decide that “oh hey! Food, bedding, and everything I need? Perfect!”

But don’t those hanging feeders have the problem of feed spilling out and waste?

There’s rarely any waste from my chickens. They end up eating the food that might get on the ground (FYI, my chickens waste MUCH less with pelleted food (as opposed to feed that has seeds, they like to pick through for their favorites.)

 

[3KillerBs]

There’s rarely any waste from my chickens. They end up eating the food that might get on the ground

If I find that my birds have spilled feed to any significant degree I just don't feed them again until they have cleaned it up.

 

[Devorah]

I have regular metal feeder (attachment below) that I hang in the run under the covered area. I put it away at night, in a metal bin, then get it out in the morning.
I don’t want rodents in the coop, because they might decide that “oh hey! Food, bedding, and everything I need? Perfect!”

There’s rarely any waste from my chickens. They end up eating the food that might get on the ground (FYI, my chickens waste MUCH less with pelleted food (as opposed to feed that has seeds, they like to pick through for their favorites.)

Thanks very much!

 

[RubelliteRose]

Ahhh and that begs the following question: what if you have an automatic coop door? If the feeders are not in the run in the morning, how will the chickens eat? Or will you just have to get up to return the feeders to the run, thereby negating the convenience of having an automatic door?

No automatic coop door and yes, we get up with the sun to feed the chickens and horses

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

Crazy weather is also a consideration! And we are getting more and more of it …

This is why I feed in the "coop". My run isn't covered as far as keeping rain and snow out, only birds of prey. In the winter, food and water are inside. However, the "coop" is 12x12 (walk in.) So. there is plenty of room for a feeder and waterer. (And the 4 chickens currently have even if they choose to stay inside for days or weeks at a time. Door to the run is always open so if they choose to go out, they can. I also have plenty of ventilation and live in the (high) desert, so condensation isn't an issue. We have heavy (40+mph) winds a LOT. Anything that is outside is quickly full of dirt and whatnot, and if hanging will blow like crazy and probably knock a chicken OUT, not to mention dumping the feed. In the warmer months I have several pans of water outside. Feed stays inside.

 

[Devorah]

This is why I feed in the "coop". My run isn't covered as far as keeping rain and snow out, only birds of prey. In the winter, food and water are inside. However, the "coop" is 12x12 (walk in.) So. there is plenty of room for a feeder and waterer. (And the 4 chickens currently have even if they choose to stay inside for days or weeks at a time. Door to the run is always open so if they choose to go out, they can. I also have plenty of ventilation and live in the (high) desert, so condensation isn't an issue. We have heavy (40+mph) winds a LOT. Anything that is outside is quickly full of dirt and whatnot, and if hanging will blow like crazy and probably knock a chicken OUT, not to mention dumping the feed. In the warmer months I have several pans of water outside. Feed stays inside.

I get it. That makes total sense. My conditions are slightly different in northern Mass/southern Vermont. Our run is covered so snow and rain don’t really get in. Since I’m going to do deep bedding im the coop, that’s another reason to keep the water in the run. Of course, if the weather gets super crazy, I’ll need a plan B …

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

I get it. That makes total sense. My conditions are slightly different in northern Mass/southern Vermont. Our run is covered so snow and rain don’t really get in. Since I’m going to do deep bedding im the coop, that’s another reason to keep the water in the run. Of course, if the weather gets super crazy, I’ll need a plan B …

I've thought about covering part of it. But have been too cheap and lazy so far. Tarps and the like don't hold up long here, so I would have to do a metal roof. When we get snow, what doesn't get blown away, I just shovel a path thru it. We are so dry there that there isn't mud under it, it is dry dirt that is frozen a foot or so down. (Our average rainfall is only 9 inches per year. And the last few years we have gotten a fair amount less than that. So, rain really isn't an issue here. (Definite pros and cons to that. LOL)

 

[rosemarythyme]

You will have to do what works best for you and your setup.

^ This - don't be afraid to try things and then change them if they don't work for your set up.

For me, water is in the run (to ensure coop stays dry) and food is both in the run and in the coop. Fermented feed goes in the run (again, moisture stays outside) and the flock finishes that off in the morning. A dry pellet feeder is available inside the coop all day as the coop will keep the feeder bone dry (run is not roofed). I remove the dry feeder at night and put it in a metal trash can to minimize attraction to rodents.

No big issues with rodents now as the flock is very good about cleaning up the fermented feed outside during the morning, and will clean up any fallen pellets in the coop early the next morning before the auto door opens.

Ahhh and that begs the following question: what if you have an automatic coop door? If the feeders are not in the run in the morning, how will the chickens eat? Or will you just have to get up to return the feeders to the run, thereby negating the convenience of having an automatic door?

I have an auto door. It is NOT set for when they wake up as due to my location there's a lot of predators active at sunrise so the auto door is set to open later in the morning (7:45 AM). When it does open, they have water access but no food access, until I wake up about an hour later. They really only need water, not having food for an extra hour doesn't hurt anything.

 

[arwoon]

With the feeders, it needs to be somewhere where the weather won't get to it. If it's out in the open and it rains, you have wasted feed. I use 5 gallon buckets with these things attached.




View attachment 3056039


I keep them in the covered part of my run.

I have same sort of system, and it works well

 

[guyvstewart]

Hi everyone! I have read many posts about feeders as I embark on my chick journey (still waiting for their arrival this month!). Planning the coop and run phase of their lives, I am interested in what folks have to say about where the feeder should be — inside the coop or in the run.

While the consensus seems to be in the run (many saying never put food in the coop), I’m curious as to why since — to me — keeping food in the run would seem to attract predators. Thoughts?

This leads me to my second question: if the feeder is best kept in the run, which type of feeder is best to protect against the invasion of little critters? I have read that the feeders that have deep openings prevent feed waste. But can’t rodents jump inside and feast away?

Thank you so much for your feedback - it’s greatly appreciated!

At one time I had feed tubes in the coop and run. I found that the feed in the coop didn't get eaten and would mold. I had to refill feed in the run about once a week. Now have two feed tubes in the run. I do have water in the coop and the run.