Help! Which is the best option!

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Hey Flock! I am leaving for two days for a band gig, and am wrestling with what to do with my flock. The two options I have are 1 leave the coop doors open and make sure there is plenty of food and water for them, or have my friend care for them. Problems with option one are: there have been coyotes have been as close as 200ft away, but my coops are pretty secure, and runs are completely enclosed excluding the floor, but it would still make me nervous. Problems with option 2 are: my friends flock has lice, mites, and FAVUS, and that’s only what I’m 100% sure of, that would mean direct contamination with my flock, but eliminate the risk of predators,.. no good options!

 

[FortCluck]

I'd go with the first option. I wouldn't want my flock contaminated with anything!

 

[Willowspirit]

I would choose Option 1 also.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Thank you, that is what I was thinking. I’ll just have to pray nothing gets my babies!

 

[Gray Farms]

Option 1

 

[Ebony Rose]

If your coop is large enough, there's an option #3. Leave them locked in the coop for 2 days with plenty of food and water. Sounds mean, but really, it's better than putting a single chicken into isolation when they're sick... Just saying, it's an option.

 

[chrissynemetz]

I think I would double check the run, make it as secure as possible, and go with option #1.
And I would worry the entire time I was away

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Option 1 for me. Maybe get an auto coop door or ask some other person to just close and open the coop at night and in the morning.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Option 1 for me...or ask some other person to just close and open the coop at night and in the morning.

Problem with someone to open and close the coop, is the one person they trust to do this, has disease in his own flock. WAY too much of a risk as it could be tracked onto OP's property on the soles of their shoes, or dust and dander clinging to their garments.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Problem with someone to open and close the coop, is the one person they trust to do this, has disease in his own flock. WAY too much of a risk as it could be tracked onto OP's property on the soles of their shoes, or dust and dander clinging to their garments.

Well, OP says one friend could take care of them, but most people know more than one human being near where they live and just opening/closing the coop is usually the sort of small request you could make of someone you don't know super well or someone who doesn't want to help much like a neighbor or immediate family member.

I'm not suggesting option 2, rather suggesting option one with someone you don't trust to do the whole nine yards is still better than option one.