How long can you leave them alone?

[Sabz]

Just wondering if any of you ever left the egg layers alone for a few days, without anyone coming to feed them?

I do it with my parrot, once every two years. I leave for 6 days and give him about 8 bowls of water (in case he tips a few over) and 5 feeders. I thought we could do the same with the chickens, but will they keep laying eggs in the nest? My nest would be filled up with eggs at my arrival lol! I would throw them out, right? Since they would be in the coop for a few days.

When I will process my meat birds, I will be left with 5 layers in a 12X8 coop. I have a few hanging wateres with nipples. I thought I could leave a few bowls (heavy ones that won't tip over) and fill up a few feeders and be good to go for a few days.. but since I never did it, I was seeking advice from you guys.

I am thinking of leaving toward the end of summer, won't be dramatically warm here.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have a predator proof run/coop. I worry about water more than anything. But I do get it set up and leave for a few days, more than that, I have someone check on them. And they get the eggs, which a lot of people like.

Mrs K

 

[Sabz]

Yeah, I can't have anyone to come and check on the eggs, I live about an hour from anyone I know What happens if I leave the eggs?

I read that chickens could eat them if bored.. but I can put many toys and grass and little potted trees (ok if they kill them, I have multiplied my lilac and have many babies - more than I can handle) as well as cabbage, etc. If boredom is not an issue, will the issue become that there is too many eggs in the nest?

 

[JeanR]

We do what me must. While any kind of disaster can happen when we are there or not, if only several days, you should make it okay--and your hens should be fine. Yes extra water, well positioned, so it won't be spilled. And feed is easy. EGGs? They will be fine, and do not dump them. (You might hardboil them for use in lots of recipes, sandwiches, salads, and they then keep longer and well!)
Most countries of the world do not refrigerate their eggs at all!!! Was susrprised about this on a number of trips to Europe. Not refrigerated in stores or in homes. They are the best keepers in the best packaging of all nature's skins, hulls, coverings. The floating test is no test at all. Just means a few days older, and the air sack is larger because of evaporation of some solids in the eggs. (Eggs several weeks old in the fridge, do the same). So, not to worry...tell your hens to be good. And the nests full of eggs will be just fine. Eating eggs would occur at any time there is a cracked egg or a soft shelled egg, whether you are home or not--just don't worry. We do our best for our birds.

 

[Sabz]

Great advice, thanks. I do the same for my parrot.. most folks say that it's impossible, cruel.. but my point of view is that he gets majorly stressed when I bring him elsewhere to be babysat. And most places will also keep dogs and cats, so he will hear barking, etc. I feel they are better at home, alone, for a few days!

I've heard about keeping eggs on the counter, just though there was a max amount of time I will try that! Anyhow, I don't intend of leaving for a long time, I also have a saltwater aquarium that could turn to disaster faster than the coop I think! Maybe 3 days!

You are perfectly correct when you say egg eating could occur when I am home. When I go to work, they don't go in the run since I don't feel it is strong enough to keep them safe. I let them outside on weekends, because I am outside most of the time also. So I doubt that my 2 visits a day for water and feed keeps then distracted THAT much I didn't think about it that way before your intervention.

Thanks for the advices!

 

[Nick16]

I want to go away for 3 days, and leave the chickens shut up in the hen house. Should I be OK if I leave them plenty of food and water? Anything else should I be doing??
Could someone email me a reply at. [email protected] Thanks Nick

 

[Mrs. K]

I have a coop/run combination, I never shut them in a coop for long periods of time. Unless your coop is HUGE.