Can I leave my chicks for 4 days unattended?

[teach1rusl]

I wouldn't personally do it - I get someone to stop by once a day even if I'm out of town for just a weekend. You just never know what could happen.
But if it comes down to it and you have no other options - make sure you have more than one waterer available (I'm assuming you're in an area where the water won't freeze?) and twice as much feed as you think you'll need. Will they be shut inside then? Does the housing have windows??? (so they won't be in the dark). If you're leaving their pop door open, then that's a high risk for predators. There are just lots of reasons to get someone to stop by.
I think most folks who like chickens wouldn't mind a quick daily check on someone's birds to help them out. Maybe reconsider the person you mentioned??

 

[kota1369]

I have dogs, fish, chickens, rabbits, a ball python and have had lizards........ up to 12 ball pythons, frogs, cat, birds.............. meaning exotic birds and to be honest............. the only animal I would leave unattended would be a cat. You can leave them water in many places and food also. Other then that, I cant think of an animal I would leave totally unattended.
So, I recommend meeting the person from here and seeing if you trust them. They only need to really swing by every 2 days I would think. JMO

 

[sourland]

I would go with the fellow BYC member. You can return the favor in the future.

 

[hispoptart]

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[Knock Kneed Hen]

I'd have someone check in on them once a day. They can get themselves into trouble...caught toenail on the wire, a minor injury that has the others pecking it, etc... If it can happen it WILL happen, and it'll happen while you're away.

 

[NonnasBabies]

I agree you need someone to check on them. I don't even leave my big girls & boys without at least a once a day visit!!

 

[Mommy 2 Wee Ones]

We only went to Oklahoma for the weekend & had the neighbor girl (who had chickens) come over to take care of my 10 week old chickens & lock them up for the night, let them out in the morning, and watch our two dogs. One night we were going to a concert, left at 5 pm, were not going to be home till 10 pm, gave her the key to check the dogs & lock the chickens up for the night.

I am too picky about my pets, I need someone to check on them at least once a day.

 

[CarolJ]

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If you'll be gone 5 days - the neighbor/friend/BYCer can check on them the second and fourth day you're gone. Just two times is no big deal to make sure the water and feed levels are still okay.

ETA: I always have someone check on mine at least once a day - but I have layers and don't want eggs sitting around in the nest boxes over night.

 

[brandislee]

I agree- plus, I'm sure this won't be the last time you need to leave your chickens. It's better to start a relationship with someone now who can watch them so you can rely on them in the future. I hated to ask someone to watch my chickens when I was gone the first time since I still didn't know anyone in the neighborhood very well, but I sucked it up and asked and we are now close friends. I gave her a gift each time she watched them (twice now) and when my chickens started to lay I gave her several dozen free eggs. If you feel bad asking someone, pay them, or offer them something in trade- that's why the fellow BYCer is a good idea- you can repay the favor by watching his/her chickens in they future. But yeah, there are too many things that can go wrong, especially with the water. They could kick it over, it could run out, it could get so full of bedding they can't drink out of it anymore. No water can = dead chickens pretty quick. Or what if they start fighting or pecking each other, or one mysteriously dies (because they do that sometimes), or a rat gets in your coop and starts biting their toes at night- my point being there are a lot of possibilities, many we can't predict. No, of course you don't want someone else to have to deal with that if you can help it, but is it better to leave your chickens helpless?

 

[jdywntr]

I think you should have someone check on them just in case. But to make it easier on whoever is checking why not try filling up their food and water and see how long it lasts. That way, whoever is checking may not need to refill daily therefore they don't need much experience with chickens.