[brookieme]

Hi all,
I have been told that I need to take the chickens food and water out of their coop at night to stop mice etc.
Is this ok to do? My chickens drink a lot of water during the day. Will they be ok without through the night?
Any helpful advice greatly received. I am new to this chicken keeping

[joyfull]

They don't need food or water at night - they should all be sleeping then so yes do remove them 

[brookieme]

Of course silly me 

I do have a feeder that hangs from the centre of the coop on string. It is quite high off the ground at pecking height.
Will I need to take that out or am I thinking mice wouldn't be able to get the food.

[GrannieAnnie]

Our feeders were al hanging ones and we never took them out at night.  Bit of a phaff when we had 300 chickens! lol

But water was always kept outside as less mess if its knocked over.

[Sassy]

Of course silly me 

I do have a feeder that hangs from the centre of the coop on string. It is quite high off the ground at pecking height.
Will I need to take that out or am I thinking mice wouldn't be able to get the food.

What about rats? They could reach

[brookieme]

I don't think rats could get in!

[CattinJ]

they shouldnt really have food/water in the coop generally - better to keep it in the run.
I leave mine out at night in the summer, and take it in during winter to stop the water freezing/prevent rats.  The rats are hungrier during winter it seems, and will dig under the wiring to get to the food if I leave it out. Also, the chooks are up earlier than me in the summer, so by leaving the food out, they can get up and eat/drink straight away.

[andy46]

I take everything out at night and lock it in the shed so not to attract vermin(food kept in metal bin in shed) and i put them out in the morning when i let the girls out.