Help settle an argument with DW please

[PunkinPeep]

I think peace of mind says garage - but i would be concerned about the heat. And it's going to smell pretty bad by the time you get back.

Man, they're so little!

Yes, you have to let them stay in the garage!

 

[sunflowerenvy]

also i would get some more borads to put on run like 1x6and make the bottom of the wire cover so you could do a deep litter with pine shaving for them while you are gone after that used it in your compost pile

 

[AlaskGirl]

Maybe more than one water option too, in case they knock one over as said before.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Figure out the maximum temperature in the garage, then decide if that is too hot. If it is, you need to find a way to cool the garage or make the outdoor tractor and coop safe. As currently configured, they are NOT safe. 2x4 openings in the wire is BEGGING for a predator to get to them. If a human can move it, so can a raccoon (I'm thinking of the pavers).

Also, have someone come by daily to check on their well-being.

 

[CMV]

Garage.

 

[sourland]

I would try to hire a "pet sitter" who could check on a daily basis. 2 X 4 wire is a problem waiting to happen. I would add electric fence or move them into the garage also.

 

[BackToMyRoots]

Another vote for the garage!

I kept my four-week-olds in there while I was on vacation for two weeks, and having them in the garage by the window worked perfectly. It didn't even smell, although it might have if the pet sitter hadn't changed the soiled shavings every few days. The peeps probably thought we'd moved them to Seattle for a week due to the low light, but it gave me peace of mind to know that they were in a safe temperature away from predators. To help make it more of a normal environment for them, I also left a sand-filled casserole dish (now I think it would've been cool to add some DE) for them to dust bathe.

The alternate water source is also a great idea--even if you just put in a backup Mason jar chick waterer, it will ensure that nobody dehydrates if one waterer clogs up or the pet sitter forgets to come in exactly two days apart.

Best of luck on your trip!

 

[flgardengirl]

I agree with Sonoran Silkies. Definitely find out how hot the garage is going to be during the daytime. I'm in NE FL and our garage gets horribly hot and stuffy. Would surely kill chickens unless we had air going in there. If you left them outside I would skirt the bottom and do the whole run with hardware cloth not welded wire. Leave a few large waterers because if one gets knocked over or leaks then they will have another water source. I would leave them lots of food plus a flock block that they could peck at in case all the food gets ate up or wet or....

 

[dawg53]

Option #2. Put a couple of fans in the garage on low speed.

 

[sewchick]

I am putting mine in the cellar with florescent lighting. I do this in the winter as well and use lots of pine shavings. Odd thing it does not stink and I know it doesn't because I ask my quilting group and they are brutally honest.

I found that leaving them out in the coop, they get frostbite and that is not good. Even with heat lamps they still get frost bite. The coop is insulated. I just don't understand it. If you have a cellar that is the way to go. A big box with a lot of fencing around and on top of it. Mine is about 14 ft long by 4 wide for 3 silkies and 2 standards. It's about 3 feet high. I let them out to stretch their wings and then clean up after. They seem happy enough with the lighting and treats. I use cat carriers for nest boxes. They are dark and easy. The cellar stays about 62 or so year round. They go in the coop from spring till fall and outside during the day. I have no choice but to keep them penned up.

I would go with keeping them in the garage if I didn't have a cellar.