[mpv1961]

My 6 girls are out and about during the daytime and put themselves to bed when starts getting dark. My question is this should I put water and food into the coop for them or not the coop is dark as it was a old dog kennel with attached run, any advice would be greatfully appreciated.

[orchardlady]

There is no need to put food and water in the house for over night. The water can cause condensation and make the house damp and chilly and the birds do not move around much at night if at all. They will be just fine until the morning without any form of sustenance.

[bantam novice]

I agree with Orchardlady here.  You may want to take the water inside with you when you have shut the hens up and take it out again in the morning.  You will not have to defrost it then!   

Good Luck

[mpv1961]

thanks for replies they go to bed about 4pm and get let out about 7.30am so just thought was a long time in dark and without food and water, thanks again for replies

[orchardlady]

It's about the same here. It's a long haul to the Winter Solstice but then the days slowly....oh so slowly ....start to get longer. The positive spin on this is that now you have hens you become much more aware of the environment/weather/daylight and what it's doing. The birds go to bed so early now but in the Summer I want to go to bed and they don't!

[otis pony]

Just a thought but you might want to bring the food in at night too, away from any vermin, they are very hungry this time of year!!