chicken sitting

[my9chickensandme]

New to chickens but have 9 and love them. I need to travel and found a person to watch my chickens.
She has 75 of her own and 2 roosters. To keep mine safe and to be able to identify them in a week,
she offered to watch them by putting them in with the roosters. My chickens have never been with a
rooster and me and my husband are afraid by putting them in with the roosters for a week it will change
their disposition, picking order and idenity? Does anyone know if this will happen or what we can expect?
Thanks, my9chickensandme

 

[mmaddie's mom]

I would be more worried about your chickens picking up some disease or parasite from her flock... and the roosters being so excited to have hens that they tear them up mating them. Is there any way someone can come to YOUR place to check on your girls? How much space do you have in their pen? Do you have a gallon or bigger waterer? a feed block will last them for food while you age gone. Having someone once a day to just check in on them might be a better way to go.

Oh... and

 

[Snegurochka]

Welcome!

I would be terrified of the roosters attacking the hens (they would, after all be strangers). They could be blinded or worse. Do you have any nearby family/neighbors that can come out for you? You can bribe them by letting them keep all the eggs they collect. Once a day would be plenty if you've got an enclosed run that the girls can go in and out of on their own.

 

[fifelakelooper]

Sometimes my husband can't stand the winter and we have left to go south for 1-3 months. We bought a $300 travel trailer (I"m not telling a lie...this is true) and converted it into a coop. We tried it last winter with a friend who has chickens that free range. She took care of mine the whole time I was gone...I told her NOT to let them out but to keep them in the RV. It was only 8 hens and one roo and they had plenty of room. Our winters are harsh so I didn't feel bad about keeping them inside. It went fine. There is a risk of caretaker tracking in bacteria from the roaming chickens into the trailer but the water and food was right by the door and the nest had outside access. It went fine. I'd rather not have to have a caretaker but it is what it is. I paid for her chicken feed all winter in return and if I do it again I now have a incubator and will repay her with baby chicks! Good to have chicken loving friends!