Home alone

[Hennyfromdblock]

Good morning everyone

Has anyone ever had or has to often, be away from home for a day or so, meaning their flock stays home alone (coop party ) without anyone caring for them for whatever reason it may be? If so, what do you do to prepare for them to be alone that or those days?

Since everyone’s flock lives differently, for example. Some may be free range and just have a coop to sleep at night, some may have their coop fenced in, some may have a covered run, etc. I wonder how someone prepares in case there’s nobody around.

In my case, the times My family and I have to be away which is rare and 2 days max. We have someone house sit and care for our flock.
And though they are being cared for I still make sure to leave out extra water and food for them. My coop is only fenced in and not covered. So in other words our friend only has to open/close the coop door, put their feed out/in, and they won’t get to free range so they stay in their perimeter which is still a big area.
Then I was thinking what about the day there’s nobody to watch them? Do I just leave their coop door open all night? There’s no big predators in my area but still one Can never be to safe.

Sorry for my rambling, my thoughts are all over the place .

 

[BarnyardChaos]

With no cover over the run, you'll always run the risk of hawks etc. We have a similar situation, but not much to be done about it. We keep a few roosters to call the alarm and fight as they can, provide plenty of places to hide, and it seems to work pretty well. However, raccoons are abundant and hungry in our area, so the chickens ALWAYS get locked up in their coop at night. I would never, ever consider leaving the coop door open at night. It interferes with our social and family activities, because someone always has to be home at dusk. So.... for the past 7 years since we've had chickens, hubby and I have not and cannot take even just an overnight trip together unless we have a very trustworthy caretaker for the birds.

IF the situation arose where we had to be away for several days with no caretaker, I'd have to keep them inside the coop locked up. I'd place plenty of feeders and waterers that cannot be soiled or spilled. Ensure proper ventilation, plenty of litter, and hope for the best. It will be overcrowded and they will stress, but it's the best option.

If worst came to worst, and we have to be away for weeks or months.... I think I'd have to re-home them if possible, or (last resort) turn them loose to the wild.

 

[Hennyfromdblock]

With no cover over the run, you'll always run the risk of hawks etc. We have a similar situation, but not much to be done about it. We keep a few roosters to call the alarm and fight as they can, provide plenty of places to hide, and it seems to work pretty well. However, raccoons are abundant and hungry in our area, so the chickens ALWAYS get locked up in their coop at night. I would never, ever consider leaving the coop door open at night. It interferes with our social and family activities, because someone always has to be home at dusk. So.... for the past 7 years since we've had chickens, hubby and I have not and cannot take even just an overnight trip together unless we have a very trustworthy caretaker for the birds.

IF the situation arose where we had to be away for several days with no caretaker, I'd have to keep them inside the coop locked up. I'd place plenty of feeders and waterers that cannot be soiled or spilled. Ensure proper ventilation, plenty of litter, and hope for the best. It will be overcrowded and they will stress, but it's the best option.

If worst came to worst, and we have to be away for weeks or months.... I think I'd have to re-home them if possible, or (last resort) turn them loose to the wild.

Thank you for your feedback . I feel stressed leaving them when we do even though there’s someone home. Even when I’m home I won’t let them free range unless outside with them. A neighbor behind us, for years has his flock free, they sleep in the trees and just come down at night and In the mornings they’re just roaming the yard and in the alley. It’s interesting how everyone cares for their flock differently.