Going on vacation for 1-week

[Indychick]

I agree to get someone to check on them. Our neighbors have a young boy and we paid him $10 a day during our 10 day vacation to let them out and in at night, check their waterers feeders. I know that sometimes my chickens tip their water bucket and it ends up trickling out faster than normal so I told him to watch out for that. Plus, the chickens go through the feed so much more since they are penned up so that needed replaced as well. Just for your own peace of mind, I would get someone - post a note at a local church, school, or community center and I bet you with summer being here someone will do it! Good luck.

 

[Lady Henevere]

There's a critter sitter thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2269714

Maybe someone there is willing (and close enough) to check in on your chickens?

 

[tdgill]

two birds? TAKE THEM WITH YOU.
hahahah. sorry

My boyfriend said we'll have to ours camping with us and to the beach. Can you picture it??? lol. Lets see, I'll get them a screened tent, maybe run one of those electric plastic fences around, umm some roosts inside their tent and a collapsed cardboard box that i can put back together for their coop at nite, or maybe my dog crate and breakfast eggs in the morning! hahaha

I would pet sit for your for free! And if money is an issue with sitting, i bet there are other people who would do it for free too. Too bad we are so far apart in Maryland...

 

[Brody]

I have to go into a major city for a course for 4 days and as the chickens are new to me I don't know anybody who can take care of them here for me so they are going to be set up in a very urban basement ... I feel badly for them as they love to scratch and eat bugs and dust bathe and sun etc but I know they'll be safe ...

I just love the image of chickens camping ...

 

[dustbath]

I pay my neighbor's teenagers to feed and water my very small flock, and lock them in at night. The problem is that while they are a farming family, and very familiar with caring for poultry, I have the feeling they don't always do it. I came home early last time and it looked as if no one had been there for a while. It was late at night and the chicken door was open too.

I don't know if this reflects a different attitude to chickens or just normal adolescent behavior but it's a risk, I guess.

 

[tdgill]

Quote:
funny image isnt it? I bet they would make fun camping buddies.

how do you have your food and waterer set up? I am just afraid of something going wrong with mine. what kind of area do you have for them? I don't want to keep mine (only 3) in a small kennel because i am worried they will get cramped and pick on each other. Tho, when i had 2 hens in quarantine after i bought them, they seemed to do surprisingly well in two attached extra large rubbermaid storage containers with screened tops. but that was when the weather was cooler...

i am thinking of making like a lean to in the corner of the basement with chicken wire...

 

[embkm]

I always have someone come check on mine (of course that was when there was only 1 pen... now up to 3). I've never had to pay them either, just let them have all the eggs they collect. Surely you have 1 friend that would be willing to come over?

Otherwise, 4H, FFA, or the vet's office are good places to look to hire someone.