Henergy Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I've always thought that I should be maybe taking the feed in at night - but what do you do with it ? Ideal choice would be the garage - but the mice would get it. What do you all do, or do you leave it in the run ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateC Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 We've got a little conservatory. I bring the glug and grub with food in at night and then it is easy to get to for the morning. I am hoping no mice or bigger(!) can get to it there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimmyCustard Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I take mine indoors each night otherwise the slugs or snails slime over it, leaving nasty trails of slugginess and makes the food unclean for the girls. I also wash the grub twice a week and refill, keeps bugs at bay and the hens well. I bought an Omlet bucket with waterproof cover to keep their food in but discovered today that the cover isnt waterproof! Wet food in the bucket, not impressed but not sure where to complain to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Just to the left of my kitchen door, on the inside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Mrs Chicken Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I leave mine in the run,i know i shouldn't tho in case of rats.I leave my door open so the chooks can get up when they want and they would be without food for a couple of hours till i got up if i took the food in at night.I might start to take it in when the mornings are darker and the chooks get up later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKMARCH Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I keep mine in a small shed next to the chicken run the food is in a large van ness pet storage container which holds a large sack full and is sealed and airtight so no smells to attract any rats the food pots fit in as well when its not full. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 I bought a plastic, lidded tub which is just the right size for the Grub. It is kept on my back porch, so when the girls go to bed, Grub removed and put in the sealed tub as I go back indoors (reverse for morning ) Definately not kept in the run, mice and rats will help themselves and I won't risk the diseases they could bring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pips_pekins Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 I have 2 grubs, glugs and grit pots. I have a big plastic bin with lid and then pop a couple of bricks on top of the lid as well. The bin sits outside next to the chickens. If there is room, the grubs and grit go in the bin but if I have a new bag of food, I put it all in the porch. Hopefully, stops both rats and the dog from getting at them Before getting the chickens, we had mice in the garage and shed, the dog even caught one , so I try to ensure that I don't leave any food in there and clear up as much as I can around the chickens. We live in a very built up area and I have lovely neighbours who have no problem with me keeping chickens. I am doing all I can to keep it that way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 I put it on the side in my kitchen, just inside the kitchen door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc123 Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 I have been leaving the water hung up in the run, and the food just lives in the coop, which is shut up at night. The water gets rinsed out and replaced each day. Should I be bringing them both in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henchanted Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 My routine is that I rinse out and refresh the water in the glugs or jugs at bedtime, so the hens have fresh/unchlorinated water to get up to (I leave the eglu doors' just closed to' but not locked so they can push the door open. The grubs always come indoors and I leave mine inside by the french windows. I usually only put out their daily portion of feed plus a bit extra so there is little left over and any left is always tipped to one side of the grub and filled afresh with the old stuff not building up, or thrown away its its had muck kicked into it. I worry about not just 'encouraging' rats and mice but that they might be carrying diseases and infect the chicken feed with their urine or droppings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickybaby Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 My food stays out in the run. I know we've got mice and I quite enjoy watching them run in and out of the run on a summers evening, once the chooks have gone to bed. We've had mice under our shed for years, I even leave food out for them daily, and as long as they stay up the end of the garden and not come near the house then I'm happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 I wouldn't mind mice, but my darling cat is a sadist and likes to skin them alive before eating half and leaving the other half on the patio. So I tend not to encourage them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickichicky Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 In the winter I take up all food and water and put it in my chicken dedicated shed . Did have it in the garage until I nearly crashed into the back of another car on Xmas day 2009 after a rat had eaten all my rubber tubing including the power assisted braking one!.... The OH didn't fancy his car being eaten the same way so chipped in on a shed for me! So far they haven't breached the shed yet (the garage has a catflap for the "I don't do rats" cats I have) In the summer I leave the pellets & water down (but refill water the night before as Henchanted above). They are in a run inside a WIR so I leave the pop hole open during the summer months. Mine also get a freshly made layers mash breakfast (mixed with water) each morning as I find it the best way to get supplements and wormers etc down them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 I keep my feed in an old fashioned metal bin in the shed. The 2 grubs just get put in there on top of the food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 We bring our 3 Grubs into the conservatory at night and fill them up for the next day if they need filling. We leave the water ones in the WIR and I tend to wash them out and put fresh water in most days as they get bits of food into them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
