What You’ll Regret Leaving Uncovered If You’ve Got Chickens
If you’ve got chickens, you already know they’re easy targets for predators and pests. But what you leave uncovered around the yard can also create bigger problems—ranging from illness to infestation.
Whether you’re dealing with snakes, raccoons, or heat, these are the things that need more protection than most folks realize.
Feed Left in the Open
Open bags, scoops, or even buckets of feed are a magnet for everything you don’t want near your flock—rodents, wild birds, bugs, and predators.
Keep feed in sealed bins with a lid that locks tight. If you’re scooping out portions during the day, don’t leave the container open while you walk off. It only takes a minute for something to get in.
Waterers Sitting in the Sun
If your chicken waterers are sitting in direct sun, the water heats up fast and grows algae or bacteria before you realize it. That can mess with digestion or make your birds sick.
Use shaded areas or put a cover over the water zone. Swap out warm or greenish water, especially in summer, and scrub the container at least once a week.
Open Compost Piles Near the Run
Chickens are curious and will peck at anything nearby—including decomposing scraps. But a compost pile can also attract snakes, flies, and raccoons right up to the coop.
If you compost near the chickens, keep it fully contained and fenced off. Don’t count on a pallet barrier or low fence to do the trick.
Cracked or Unsealed Feeders
If your feeders have cracks or loose lids, moisture can get in fast—and wet feed leads to mold. Moldy feed can cause serious health issues in chickens, from sour crop to organ damage.
Make it a habit to inspect feeders weekly. If it’s warped, chewed, or loose, swap it out. Don’t try to stretch it one more season.
Bedding Stored Uncovered
Straw or pine shavings left exposed pick up moisture and bugs fast. If you’re keeping bedding outside or under a leaky awning, you’ll end up spreading that straight into the coop.
Keep your bedding in a shed or bin with airflow but no water access. If it smells earthy or clumps together, it’s already started breaking down and needs to be replaced.
Feed Buckets Left in the Coop
Even an empty bucket can be enough to lure in mice or insects. If you’re leaving feed containers in the coop between uses, you’re setting the flock up for problems.
Take the buckets out when you’re done feeding and store them away from the coop. The fewer smells and clutter you leave behind, the better protected your birds are.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
