Have y'all skipped vacation because of your chickens?

[LynnGrigg]

Don't feel bad... I purposely ordered my chicks to arrive when we WERE NOT going to be out of town for a while. We are on the go a lot. Fortunately my son is very responsible and has enjoyed caring for them when we leave. ... but I still have huge anxiety issues every time we go. Like you, I like to make sure every one is doing ok before bedtime. I spend time in the lot with my birds. I hand feed them and handle them. I enjoy them.

 

[wegotchickens]

We leave tomorrow and are back Sunday. Our neighbor has said she'll take care of our critters. The cats are easy, since they know where the food is stored and have no objections to chewing into the bag. And the toilet is their water bowl of choice (tried real hard to break them of it by they are determined).
I worry about the chickens. Not the feed, since we moved their tractor to fresh grass and can leave them with plenty of food. I worry about water. I like our neighbor and have taken care of her critters and her kid from time to time. So I'm praying she takes good care of my peeps!

 

[schmoo]

whew glad I'm not the only one. We usually go camping/canoeing for about a week every summer. Not this year, the chicks came in May and I figured well not this year..........We have been gone 24 hours twice. Just 2 overnight camping trips, I just lock the chickens up in the coop with tons of food and treats, give them 2 full waterers and come back the next day. I wouldn't be able to do that if it was HOT here like some southern places. I'm not the type of person that enjoys camping when it's 90 degrees. If it's 75-80 I figure they will be fine.

They don't seem mad at me or nothing........my husband just shakes his head because the minute we pull in the driveway I'm out of the car heading for the coop to let them out.

Speaking of heat.......it IS supposed to be 93 today and 95 tomorrow and I live in very Michigan. Guess I'll have to stay home and keep the chicks cool LOL I sprayed their run down with cold water yesterday and they loved it!

 

[Zenbirder]

One of the reasons I got chickens was because we don't go anywhere any more. We thought several years ago that we would travel, but when it came time to be able to we both looked at each other and said no, home is best. Like Speckledhen, we live in beautiful mountains (in another part of the country) where others go to for vacation. I HATE crowds and won't go to a city unless it is really necessary, and it rarely is. Now it is kind of nice to have the "chicken excuse" for not travelling!

 

[Agilityscots]

Well, I must be the only one unwilling to give up my vacations for my chickens.

We're leaving on the 19th and will be on the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a week; I've asked my pet sitter to come check my girls once a day (they'll be in their coop by then) and refill food and water. I'm considering leaving them in the coop the entire week while we're gone just for their safety and so that my pet sitter doesn't have to worry about getting them back in at night. Do you think this is okay?

Amy

 

[wegotchickens]

You aren't the only one unwilling to give up vacation. I gotta see the sea for a few days.

I think the peeps will be fine for a week in their coop. Give them a bale of hay or straw to tear apart to entertain themselves. They'll be dying to run when you get back!

I'm in the same boat because mine only free-range when we're there to watch. The neighbor is weirded out at the thought of herding chickens, so mine will be cooped while we're gone. I gave her some corn on the cob to throw in there for them off and on.

 

[Southern28Chick]

Quote:
You're actually driving all the way to NC for vacation?

Whenever I talk about vacation I mean in my own state, which is NC. I guess where you live you don't have any good vacation spots.

I guess your chickens will be ok. Are you leaving them in the chicken house or will they have a run for outside time while your gone?

 

[Agilityscots]

Southernchick, you are correct...unless you count the many little and dirty lakes here in Ohio, there's nowhere to go for vacation in our state.

It also helps that my husband's uncle owns a 7-bedroom beach house north of Duck towards Corolla, just for the family to use. It's never rented out and we can use it whenever we want; we can see the ocean from the kitchen window, and sound side from the living room window. It's worth the 12 hour drive--not only beautiful, but FREE!

Wegotchickens, great idea on the straw! Will definitely do that to keep my girls entertained.

Amy

 

[birdlover]

Ha! LOVE this thread!!! I just got back from my first "real" vacation since 2003 and I made sure the chickens and ducks were well taken care of before I left. I paid the two teenage sisters, next door, BIG BUCKS to do everything I do when I'm here, including scooping up the poop in the coop each day, dumping and filling the ducks pool, etc. I made them come over in the morning and again in the evening to see exactly how I do everything and, when I left for the Fla. Keys with my granddaughter, I was determined not to let myself obsess because what could I do from where I was anyway??!! It was a fantastic vacation, relaxing, lots of wild chickens to get my chicken fix, etc. All of my babies were just fine when I got home. BUT I know what y'all are saying about not being able to leave your chickens. It took me four years and lots of substitute teaching to save the money to be able to pay for great birdsitting service and a fantastic vacation. The End LOL

Ellen
P.S. I agree with whoever said there's a lot to see in this world and, once in a while, it's good for the spirit to experience something new, IMHO.

 

[Lunachick]

Yup - skipped vacation this summer cause of chickens.

But maybe in Sept we'll escape for a few days somewhere. I actually don't mind spending time in the yard with the girls.

Speckledhen - I hear ya. I don't do well with crowds or lots of people, I'd rather be someplace in the woods, mountains etc.