Caring for birds while out of town

[kdwag]

Just a curious question, is it possible to leave your chickens for a couple of days without a "caretaker" to look after them. I've certainly left food and water for a cat for two days but is this possible to do with chickens?

 

[teach1rusl]

Of course it's possible. Now, depending on how secure your coop is, you may or may not come back to living chickens. I'd double up on waterers and make sure there is plenty of feed available. It's always nice if you can find someone just to stop by for 5 minutes and count heads...make sure everyone is breathing...waterers aren't turned over, etc.

 

[kdwag]

Thanks for the reply. Coop is well secured, but as I've read, just when you think it's secured, you find out differently.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Of course, in fact, it is a must. As people, we still have lives to live and being gone for a few days is part of life. One has to structure their setup in a such a way that supplying 3 days of food and water, any time of the year, is a possibility. It is impractical to always have someone available, knowledgable and sincere enough to cover every small get-a-way that life throws at us or affords us.

 

[7L Farm]

I wouldn't leave my birds unattended for a few days. First, I have to many & then there's the heat. Mine need fresh water twice a day in this heat. I'd feel terrible if I left & came home to dead birds because of lack of water or something went hay wire. Nope not I. Its Murphy's law even when I'm here.I pay someone to check on my birds when I'm gone.

 

[darin367]

i use 5 gallon buckets for food n water when gone...... for a feeder, cut some good sized holes around sides at bottom, fill bucket.. as they eat more, the food spills out.... for a waterer.. drill 2 small holes approx. 2 inches from top of bucket, fill with water, put on lid... flip bucket over, into a pan slightly bigger around than bucket. as they drink the water down below the holes the pan will fill...... youtube it for a better description........ works great... with 1 feeder bucket n 2 water buckets i can leave them for days and they don't know i've left..............

 

[SJUDD]

I saw something in the feed store this weekend called a "Flock Block" that is intended to leave out and feed for a couple days. I was thinking of trying it in October when I go out of town for my dads birthday. I will be gone 3 days... so I guess will see how it works. I normally have 3 gallons of water in my coop that I refill every other day... but I only have 7 chickens. I do have a friend who loves to come check on them in exchange for whatever eggs they lay while I am gone but I am thinking that flock block might make it so he has less to do.

 

[goldfinches]

Flock block is really more like a chunk of scratch, not very good feed. It is better than nothing for a few days. I would consider also giving them enough regular feed plus the flock block, it'll keep them entertained while they're cooped up.

I wouldn't have a problem leaving my chickens in their coop overnight or maybe even for a couple of nights, but their coop is a large shed that is as secure as I think it can be. I use hardwire cloth over the window screens and the doors close securely. A lot of people don't take these precautions, using chicken wire and leaving large cracks and holes.

One more thing, unless your coop is in the shade, it would probably get too hot to leave them inside all day right now.