Can I leave my hens in coop for 3 days over Thanksgiving?

[hamellott]

Hi,
My family is counting on us being present for Thanksgiving in PA, twelve hours away. This is our first year with chickens (just 4 of them) and I am fretting leaving them for 3 days cooped up. I'm sure they will be fine with plenty of food and water, but I guess I just worry they will be unhappy and bored. They are used to getting out at least for a while each day. I don't have anyone to check on them during this time. I plan to unplug the light we usually have on for a few hours in the late afternoon, just for safety reasons. Any ideas or thoughts on this? We will have a heated water dish that comes on only if temps dip below freezing. Thank you!

 

[jamz]

I'm leaving mine for a week. Did it once before in the summer too, in the tiny summer tractor, they were fine and happy and healthy when I got back. Even had a ton of food and water left!

This time they have a much much bigger coop, with the summer tractor attached and operating as run space.

Just be sure to leave them plenty of food ans water and they will be good to go.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

As long as they have water and feed and they are not crowded, they can go a few days.

Chickens are pretty adaptable. You might get the "stink eye" when you open up the coop though !!

 

[chickenmeadow]

A nice "Flock Block" might keep them entertained with something new. I keep one of these in my "xtra roosters" pen, it keeps them busy & lasts a long time.

 

[Lucy4]

I second the flock block! Mine find that fairly entertaining.

 

[al6517]

Just lock up your coop good and tight, have plenty of food and water and perhaps throw in plenty of greens and scratch to keep them occupied and you should return to happy healthy chickens.

AL

 

[chickensloveworms]

Quote:
a newbie here....what's a "flock block"?

 

[Sjisty]

Make sure they can't knock their water over - we came home to some very thirsy chickens once after a weekend out of town.

 

[chickenmeadow]

chickensloveworms, I put a "flock block" (a compressed block of food) in my "xtra roosters pen" to keep them calmer, occupied & fed at the same time, a good treat to go with their regular poultry diet. Keep it up off of the ground/mud/moisture with a flat brick or the like. Here is a site for the "flock block" I use (there are other brands): http://poultry.purinamills.com/OURPRODUCTS/Products/FlockBlock/default.aspx

What it is... Whole Grain Enrichment Supplement
For free-ranging poultry and game birds
Encourages natural pecking instincts to help reduce cannibalism
Contains oyster shell and grit
Available in a 25# block

 

[chickensloveworms]

Thank you so much for explaining "flock block"......the more I learn about chickens, the more I realize I don't know!