How Do You Go on Vacation?

[SurferchickinSB]

Good neighbors are a must! Remember to share your eggs!

I agree! My next-door neighbors on both sides of me are super helpful!

 

[Tilhana]

My static coop has a small covered run attached. I don't usually use it because it's not a ton of space and I normally put the chickens in big open runs and rotate with my garden areas in the summer. But if we go on vacation, I can leave the door between the coop and the covered run open, and the birds can let themselves in and out. We have a cat sitter that we've used for several years, and she was happy to feed the chickens, too, once we got them. But this way we can just have her come once a day to refill their food and water.

Now I have a few geese, too, and I haven't left them yet. I'm thinking about leaving them outside in a static fenced area (it's not a great fence, though - it has some holes in it) with a covered area that they can use as a coop when we go on vacation in the spring. Our biggest predators here are foxes and the occasional coyote, but I'm doubtful that they'd mess with a goose, especially if they're out of sight for the night. I'll have to beta test it before we go and cross my fingers I guess. They won't fit through the door to the covered run so I can't leave them with the chickens or they'll be stuck in the coop for a week.

 

[ChickensForEggs2500]

View attachment 2518230
I take my ducks with me on vacation.

So cute!! Those are very pretty shades of muscovy.

 

[illinoishiker]

How about your rooster(s)? I've not had anyone take care of my chickens and guineas yet in over three years having them. But when my son stayed with me for several months last year due to 'the virus' my rooster would attack him. The rooster obviously knew this guy was a stranger and a danger to his girls. I believe he would attack a caregiver. He jumped me the other night not knowing it was me. I was in the chook house and trying to get the girls out of the way to do something and they fussed and he ripped in though the pop door and jumped me. His spurs are trimmed and he can't do any harm if a person wears long pants but it is so scary being attacked by a rooster. I'm sure a caregiver would run and not come back. I have to come up with a way for chores to be done without Henry interfering.

 

[DucksKayak]

So cute!! Those are very pretty shades of muscovy.

Thank you! They were only 3ish months old in that picture. The brown one looks very similar as an adult, the black one got prettier! Ha

 

[Kirkwooder]

How about your rooster(s)? I've not had anyone take care of my chickens and guineas yet in over three years having them. But when my son stayed with me for several months last year due to 'the virus' my rooster would attack him. The rooster obviously knew this guy was a stranger and a danger to his girls. I believe he would attack a caregiver. He jumped me the other night not knowing it was me. I was in the chook house and trying to get the girls out of the way to do something and they fussed and he ripped in though the pop door and jumped me. His spurs are trimmed and he can't do any harm if a person wears long pants but it is so scary being attacked by a rooster. I'm sure a caregiver would run and not come back. I have to come up with a way for chores to be done without Henry interfering.

Your Rooster will only get more aggressive as he ages. Find him a new home. Somewhere warm and comfy, like this:

 

[GuernseyCow]

We have gravity feeders & an enclosed coop connected to the run. Our chickens put themselves to bed and get up whenever they get up. I have relatives that check on them every few days to replenish water and check food but otherwise it’s pretty simple to take off for a week.

 

[BigCarmine]

Hello! I was just thinking, and there doesn't seem to be many threads about it. How do you go on vacation when you have ducks/chickens? If I get ducks, I need to be able to leave them for a couple days, and have someone come to check on them only once. Your ideas are very welcome!!

One of our daughters comes by and collects the eggs for themselves.

 

[ChichiMama]

Thanks! This is a great solution! We usually have a neighbor come and feed our cats and chickens, so maybe we can convince them (with some eggs of course) to take care of our (future) ducks!

We

I have a large homemade feeder and a feeder designed for deer that hold enough food for a week to feed the chickens and ducks. My chickens get a kiddie pool for water as long as there are no chicks and the ducks have the pond. Unfortunately my ducks stay on the pond day and night, but for the chickens I purchased a automatic door that I use only when we are gone. It was not cheap, but it eliminates the 2x a day chores for the neighbors. We have other animals as well, so we have a neighbor stop by to look over everything each day. Most of the time they just take a walk to say hi to the animals.

we actually use the automatic door all the time... I have such a hard time getting up so early

 

[ChickensForEggs2500]

We

we actually use the automatic door all the time... I have such a hard time getting up so early

Me too! I just woke up...