who puts/doesn't put food and water in the coop?

[ejctm]

I have seen loads of amazing pics of coops here, some of which I see have food and water in the coop itself. I don't put any food or water inside the coop. I let my birds out in the morning and lock them in when they go to roost at night. They get food and water outside.

For one thing, my ducks would make a holy mess of any water, but my chickens are asleep during the dark hours and don't need anything. Of course in the mornings they are all raring to go, and get out to stretch their legs, do a huge poop and eat and drink.

What does everyone else do? And does it matter? And if you do put it inside, why do you?

Just interested in different ways of doing things.

 

[FireTigeris]

I have a secure coop attached to the run and I have food in the run in daylight.

 

[triplepurpose]

I have an open-air coop (plus rotatable pasture runs) with an automatic waterer inside. They get food in a trough twice a day, plus occasional scraps and fodder during the day, but ideally nothing is left out overnight (to discourage rats, ants, etc).

I don't see any problem with what you do. I've always assumed that was the standard old-school way of housing chickens--I highly doubt farmers back in the day had automatic plumbing in the hen house or bothered to carry heavy water containers just in case the chickens wanted an early morning drink before the farmer got there to open the door. It just means you have to commit to always letting them out first thing in the morning, which it sounds like you already are.

Not sure about the ducks, because I know my ducks definitely drink during the night, but I kind of doubt it would hurt them to be shut in during the night too.

 

[CGinJCMO]

Another reason why I have the food inside, beside the mice and coon attraction, is to make another reason for my chickens to want to come inside. I was warned that they might roost under the coop (mine is raised 2' to 3' on a hill). Right now they free range. I have an automatic waterer inside and I also have 1 gallon water outside to give them more in this heat. They also get scraps/treats outside. I don't want to attract more flies or ants than necessary inside the coop by leaving watermelon rind in there.

CG

 

[BeulahBreezes]

I leave their water in the run, but I put the feed inside our house at night. I just feel they are safer from the racoons and black bears and then mice can't poop in their food dish either........
I also feed them healthy treats, (fruits & vegetables), during the day.......~Beulah

 

[joan1708]

I keep the food/water in the run. The run is enclosed with hardware cloth to make it rodent resistent. I cover and elevate the feed at night as double insurance against rodents. I do leave the water out 24/7 in the coop and run. I surely don't want to attract rodents into my coop where my sleeping defenseless hens are. I've heard rodents can nibble on your hen's feet while they are asleep.

 

[jmtcmkb]

I keep food and water in run... they dont go in coop at all during daylight hours. when I first put them in coop I hung food and water in there, but they spent all day in run, it made sense to keep it out there. I do let them out at 5am as they are squaking to get out.

 

[gstuartw]

I have a gravity feeder in the coop that they only eat from in emergencies (oversleep). Water and main food source is in the run.

 

[karlamaria]

I keep food and water in the run, and in the winter I put it in the coop and also in run. this way they have a choice, stay inside or go out side. the coop is big enough and heated in case it gets below zero. but my girls do not mind being out side . the run is completly roofed, and I cover it with plastic to keep all wind and snow etc. out .

 

[Kim95037]

I do both actually. I keep a small waterer and feeder inside the coop off to the side. Mostly for the silkie when she gets broody.