Food location - coop or run?

[RadiantJay]

If one has a persistent ground squirrel and gopher problem, to the point where they chewed through the hardware fabric floor... and one has a very large coop and run, what is better - keeping the chicken feed in the coop or run?

Challenge: Food is available 24-7, cannot be put away at night.

Thoughts?

 

[Chickenupho]

If one has a persistent ground squirrel and gopher problem, to the point where they chewed through the hardware fabric floor... and one has a very large coop and run, what is better - keeping the chicken feed in the coop or run?

Challenge: Food is available 24-7, cannot be put away at night.

Thoughts?

In the run, but I would have the feeder hanged around 1/2 foot from the ground.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Chickens don't eat at night, remove the feed at night.

 

[Chickenupho]

Chickens don't eat at night, remove the feed at night.

agreed.

 

[WindingRoad]

If one has a persistent ground squirrel and gopher problem, to the point where they chewed through the hardware fabric floor... and one has a very large coop and run, what is better - keeping the chicken feed in the coop or run?

Challenge: Food is available 24-7, cannot be put away at night.

Thoughts?

Why can't the feed be removed at night?

 

[RadiantJay]

Why can't the feed be removed at night?

Thanks. Answer: Because I have three young children, the coop is far from the hoise, and the 2 food dispensers hold 30lbs of food each. So...this likely means that I’m lazy, too busy with work work and life to worry about chickens, and not wanting to move 60lbs 2x per day.

 

[RadiantJay]

In the run, but I would have the feeder hanged around 1/2 foot from the ground.

Thanks. My feeders are attached to the wall of my run. They are a gravity feeder system held 6-10” off the floor. the gophers are actually chewing through the wire mesh floor, going in the run and kicking all of the food out of the feeders onto the floor. They then tunnel all over the underside of my wire mesh floor and eat the food that falls through to their tunnels.

No exaggeration here. My wire
Mesh floor is so unstable Due to the volume of dirt removed underneath that i May fall through the mesh with my body weight. It’s like walking on thin ice.

 

[RadiantJay]

agreed.

Thanks but please see my other replies with regards to this...

My feeders are attached to the wall of my run. They are a gravity feeder system held 6-10” off the floor, holding about 30# each. the gophers are actually chewing through the wire mesh floor (in day time) going in the run and kicking all of the food out of the feeders onto the floor. They then tunnel all over the underside of my wire mesh floor and eat the food that falls through to their tunnels.

I know it sounds crazy but is 100% No exaggeration here. My wire mesh Floor nearly falls through when I walk in the run. all rodents will soon be dead! I am declaring war.

 

[RadiantJay]

Thanks. Answer: Because I have three young children, the coop is far from the hoise, and the 2 food dispensers hold 30lbs of food each. So...this likely means that I’m lazy, too busy with work work and life to worry about chickens, and not wanting to move 60lbs 2x per day.

One other important factor, the feeders are gravity feeders and are attached to the wall of the run. The food spout is roughly 6-10” off the ground.

 

[WindingRoad]

Thanks. Answer: Because I have three young children, the coop is far from the hoise, and the 2 food dispensers hold 30lbs of food each. So...this likely means that I’m lazy, too busy with work work and life to worry about chickens, and not wanting to move 60lbs 2x per day.

Then what do you think we can do for you? You have a problem. You are feeding the wild life. Some how you've got to make more money or move the food.