camping from Friday night to Sunday Afternoon in Summer

[happyhensny]

OK, we go camping many weekends in the summer. I have large waterers, feeders, as predator proof as I can be - BUT any ideas on how to minimize x's per day chickens need attention? During the week they are free ranged. Here's the layout:

Coop 1 is 8 x 8 with attached chain link run total = 20 birds (1 Roo)

Coop 2 is 4 x 8 with attached chain link run = 7-9 banties

Coop 3 is small chicken tractor with 2 White Japanese with fenced run.

I have a friend who will come over to care for everyone but any ideas to minimize her time would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[happyhensny]

Darn ,everyone seems to be busy! I can't be the only one who goes anywhere?

 

[rachiegirl]

Sorry, I really can't help much as I was wondering the same thing. If they are "safe" in the run does someone need to come morn and night to let them in and out or is it ok to leave coop open?

 

[Chicken Fruit]

I would probably leave the birds indoors for those days that you're gone, or pay a neighbor to come close the coop door at night and open it during the day.

Thats the only thing I would be concerned about.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

We go to our cabin 2-3 times a month over the summer so I am in the same boat. I plan on keeping enough water and food for them to satisfy their hunger and keep them shut in over the weekend we are gone. IF it's too warm that weekend then I will have one of the neighbors come over and let them out so the coop during the day and back in at night (Saturday only). We are home by 2-3pm on Sundays so that's not a big issue, it's Saturday that I worry about the most!

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

just make sure the chickens have a safe run as we never had any problems and surely had many more than most people do
I had strong fencing for the birds and never had any dogs get to them

It is better to let them out in a pen as the summer heat can get toooo hot to keep them locked up
and surely you cam get some folks to come and see how they are and gather the eggs daily
make sure they lock up them at night and let them out in run in day time

come summe coons and opposum will be out looking for feed for their babies
so have good strong gates to the runs

have at least two feeders and two waterers for the chickens

 

[ChickyLaura]

Man, it's like you can all READ MY MIND. I had the same question!

 

[happyhensny]

I wonder how long eggs can be left out.. We are in and out of the coops like 10 times a day. We love to hang out with the chookies!

 

[GardenerGal]

Quote:
IME, it's best to collect eggs at least once a day, better twice - once in the morning, once in the evening. But if you go away, as long as they're not lying in the sun or mud, they will probably be fine over a weekend. Eggs can sit for a couple weeks before the hen goes broody to set, and they're designed for that. They won't start "germinating" unless they are in heat that is close to a hen's setting temperature or a little cooler such as low 90s I don't know what the starting point is. Glenda probably knows! But even during summer they won't do much of anything during a weekend.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Quote:
Patience... The forum is HUGE... It takes time for questions to be answered.

If I were you, I would figure out how much food your flock eats in three days and invest in a large feeder/dispenser (you can also build one). Sometimes you can make one large enough to hold an entire bag of feed.

That way, the only thing your friend would have to do is inspect the coop and run for any signs of predators trying to get in, and change the water.