[BarnBrian]

Just got my first four ex-batts on Friday, 3 eggs on Saturday, great.
My question is should food or water be kept in the hen house at night or can they survive comfortably without.

Brian

[Ruby Red]

I only have a coop big enough for the hens. They go to bed about 8 and manage perfectly well for 12 hours without. After all they will be asleep, but when I let them out they run like hell to the food and water lol. They should be fine  

[poultrygeist]

Hi Brian.

The aim is to send them to bed with a full crop. If you can throw them a handfull of corn about an hour before normal bedtime, they'll be happy until morning, but as Ruby says, they'll generally run for the food and water within a few minutes  

rob