Why does everyone hang the water and food from a rope?

[mamakelly]

Is there a reason that I see so many coops with the feeders hanging from a rope?

 

[sgtmom52]

I helps keep them clean ~ if you sit them on the ground the chickens scratch wood chips and dirt into them. Also it can help keep rodents out of the feed.

 

[Southernbelle]

I tried hanging the waterer once and the little stinkers kept trying to hide under it and tip it all over the place.

Now I put it up on a cinder block.

 

[mamakelly]

Ahhh mine get pine shavings into their water all the time. I'll have to try and hang it when they move into the coop. Thanks!

 

[[email protected]]

i would put it on a cylander block i have had mine hanging forever but over the years it starts to leak so i now have them on bricks

 

[patandchickens]

So they are raised up (less poo and litter kicked into 'em if they are hung at the height of the chickens' backs, no lower) and don't get knocked over.

However, truly HANGING waterers/feeders tend to spill, b/c chickens bump into them and they swing and tip.

IMHO the best arrangement (aside from wall-mounted) is to have your feeder and waterer up on blocks and ALSO tethered to something above them. So that their weight is resting on the blocks -- i.e. they can't swing -- but the rope or chain keeps them from getting knocked over.

JMHO, good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[teach1rusl]

You can get the same thing by elevating them on bricks or blocks appx. back level of your chickens...keeps bedding out and help reduce waste of billing out the feed.

 

[hearthnsoul]

Because my arms just get so tired holding it up there for them

 

[mdbokc]

Yep, hang the feeder by rope (easy to adjust) so all can gather round at the same time since they all want to eat at the same time when they come in. Easy to maintain the floor too. My feeder never swings while they are eating.

Waterer on top of blocks...I placed mine against the wall too. They don't belly up to the waterer all at once like they do the feeder.

 

[Prospector]

We have put ours on bricks, but the girls still kick stuff into the water. I may build a little 3" high fence to go around the water.