Going on vacation are chickens gonna be okay?

[St3v3n31922]

We are going out of the country and i’m worried that the chickens don’t have enough water and food, we have two 50 pound feeders and are filled all the way up, we have one 5 gallon water, a 1 gallon one and a 1.5 gallon one, we house 10 chickens about 10 months old, we can’t find anyone to take care of the chickens or anything and we aren’t in massachusetts right now it’s in the mid 80s that doesn’t seem good. But anyways is the water and food will be good? We will be gone for 3 weeks and will be leaving tomorrow and coming back on the july 30th

 

[Sunshine_Chick]

100 lbs. of feed which equates to 10 lbs. per bird but only 7.5 gal of water; that's not even a gallon per bird. I'd say you definitely need to supply more water.

 

[~KH~]

I would be very uncomfortable leaving for that long without having anyone to check on the chickens. Can you hire someone off a pet-sitting website or something?

 

[Sueby]

My 4 girls eat 50lbs about every 3-4 weeks so food should probably be good. Not sure about the water, that would be my concern.

Plus thats more than 4 weeks, not 3.

Where in MA are you?

Eta: I read 10 weeks old, not months so I assumed they weren't laying & wouldnt eat much. I take that back, lol.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

That's not gonna work... Try and find a pet sitter!

 

[starri33]

We are going out of the country and i’m worried that the chickens don’t have enough water and food, we have two 50 pound feeders and are filled all the way up, we have one 5 gallon water, a 1 gallon one and a 1.5 gallon one, we house 10 chickens about 10 months old, we can’t find anyone to take care of the chickens or anything and we aren’t in massachusetts right now it’s in the mid 80s that doesn’t seem good. But anyways is the water and food will be good? We will be gone for 3 weeks and will be leaving tomorrow and coming back on the july 30th

I would double or triple that water amount.. and make sure it can't be knocked over, sad that you can't find someone just to pop their head in and make sure everyone is ok. How long have you had the chickens? long enough to get a average on how much food they go through? I've got little piggies that can kill off 50 pounds of food in a month or less and that is with getting treats. I have auto fill waterer's for them, "doggie waterers" so as long as they don't knock over the bowl and drain the tank (we are on water haul), they are fine .

 

[St3v3n31922]

100 lbs. of feed which equates to 10 lbs. per bird but only 7.5 gal of water; that's not even a gallon per bird. I'd say you definitely need to supply more water.

How much do you think we should yet

 

[slippednfell]

Our flock of 8 goes through about 3 quarts of water per day. We too are going on vacation but it will be for only two weeks. We have two 5 gal water container and 1 3.5 water container that we will be using, as well as two giant feeders.

I would track how much water your flock goes through and how much feed and run some numbers. I know you will need more water than what you are set up for. Where are you located? I know where I am, there are no pet sitting services and only neighbors to rely on.

 

[Frogorf]

A lot more water. I have 8 birds and they go through 5 gallons every 2 to 3 days. Depending on weather.
I read some where that chickens drink the same amount of water in a day as 20 lbs dog about 2 pints a day per bird that’s 20 pints a day. 40 pints equals 5 gallons. June 29 to July 30 that’s 4 weeks. Run the math from there. But err on more of everything!

I do agree with KH. That’s a long time to go without someone checking your birds. Try to find a sitter. Or maybe a neighbour who won’t mind peeking in on them?
Hope that’s helpful. And safe travels.

 

[Sunshine_Chick]

How much do you think we should yet

I couldn't even guesstimate, but just remember all living creatures can survive short periods of no food; however, none can survive without fluids. I live in Florida and for hurricane supplies I count 2 gallons per pet per day. I would just think you'd want at least a gallon per day. Better to be safe, than sorry.