Do I need to put food trough and water bowl inside the chicken coop?

[HeartPurity]

I just built a big chicken coop, I wonder if I dont let the chiken roam that often, should I put food and water inside the coop? Thanks.

[paulinefarley50]

yes i would just to be on the safe side

[proXimo]

No. Animals will eat from sources pretty far away from where they are standing. Example: I kept chickens in a closed coop and they ate feed that was inside the building next to the coop...about 15 feet away. I've tried to starve animals before and they'll use troughs for other animals that are even farther.

However, chickens seem to be special in that they need a coop that has room for them to roost in order to survive and make eggs. Over population will kill them. I have made huge chicken pens fenced in with many coops inside it with all the coop doors open and they roam free and usually lay their eggs inside the coops.

[HeartPurity]

Originally posted by proXimo:

No. Animals will eat from sources pretty far away from where they are standing. Example: I kept chickens in a closed coop and they ate feed that was inside the building next to the coop...about 15 feet away. I've tried to starve animals before and they'll use troughs for other animals that are even farther.

However, chickens seem to be special in that they need a coop that has room for them to roost in order to survive and make eggs. Over population will kill them. I have made huge chicken pens fenced in with many coops inside it with all the coop doors open and they roam free and usually lay their eggs inside the coops.

thanks for the info!