How long can you leave your flock alone?

[IdyllwildAcres]

You should probably clean the coop sometime.

Your chickens are your livestock.

The DLM is getting better and better I will harvest the compost in the spring. There is really nothing to clean, they poop, I add hay and leaves, yard waste, paper from the shredder and after 20 months no smells. This summer it was composting so slow I started adding water and that helps. No smells = nothing to clean.

Livestock deadstock or SLAVES its all the same. They work for me, I do not work for them. They are well cared for, well fed and they love me

Gary

 

[Aunt Angus]

Shoot... I could leave mine for months, if I wanted. That's why I had kids - to take care of things while I travel! Well, I had them for that and for bagging groceries...

Seriously, having chickens had been great for my younger son, who has special needs. He is 21, and he feels as though he's contributing (which he is)... albeit grudgingly sometimes. He can feed/water them, let them out to free range, and close them up at night. He will collect eggs when that time comes. I'm more worried about leaving him than the chickens, though. Longest I've left him is 2 weeks, but his grandma and older brother keep an eye on him (make sure he's fed/watered, let him out to free range, close him in at night).

 

[Fishkeeper]

Cats and dogs need more attention because you're a major part of their social interactions and enrichment. Animals kept in social groups don't need human interaction, though they do often benefit.

 

[RumneyRoost]

We routinely leave ours for the weekends. They're in a predator proof coop with an attached run, so as long as they have enough food and water they're fine. They just get mad that they don't get to free range.
It gets trickier in the dead of winter as the nipples on the heated waterer freeze just enough when it's really cold that the girls can't peck them hard enough to get water flowing again. Or I worry that the power could go out, in which case any and all water would be frozen solid.

If we're going to be away for more than 3 days then it probably means we're taking a real vacation that the dog can't go in, in which case someone would be staying at our house anyway.

 

[Mosey2003]

The way mine are set up, I have recently "left them alone" for 3-4 days at a time (I was staying in the ICU with my mom). That's with a 5' vinyl gutter feeder filled to the very top and a 6 gallon waterer, in non-freezing weather. If I planned to leave for a week I would have someone come feed and collect eggs and top off water. I *could* set them up to last 7 days (add more feeders and waterers) but it just hasn't been necessary. 3 days was all I could hack at a time in the hospital anyway, so I'd come home, chore the birds, take a shower, and get a nap in before leaving again.

 

[Relleoms]

Winter puts a kink in things. If it weren’t for frozen eggs or fear of a power loss, I’d be comfortable leaving them for maybe 5 days. But we were away this weekend and my neighbor stopped by twice a day to collect eggs & check the heated waterers. We’re very thankful for her!

 

[RonP]

Health issues force my absence at times for a week or more.

I have around a dozen birds.

Coop and run are predator proof, run accessible 24/7.

Coop, deep bedding, needs attention perhaps once per year.

Run, 24 inches of deep litter, mostly course carbons, hasn't been cleaned in over 13 years, probably could go without any attention for at least 3 years till carbons are depleted. I add carbons yearly to maintain the 24 inch level.

Feeders, when filled, will last a minimum of 6 weeks, waters a minimum of 3 weeks.
Water source is on a temperature controlled heater, no freeze issues.

At any given time, both will have a 2 week supply, minimum.

That said, I often leave my birds, 3-14 days. Returning to nest boxes filled with eggs, but happy healthy birds. I miss them more than they me.

It can be done, but a bit of planning is necessary.

 

[Shadrach]

I need to let my slaves out on a daily basis. I need (they may think differently) that they need to be locked up in their coop at night.
Of course, if you keep your slaves permanently imprisoned then the above won’t be a problem you’ll have to address.

 

[IamRainey]

You guys make a good point that predator proof coops and runs and weather are important issues.

I don't have freezing to deal with but I wouldn't leave mine alone in the Summer when I have to keep fans running and sometimes provide ice. But most of the year I'm OK with absences.

 

[SunriseChickers]

I would be terrified to leave them alone for more than half the day. Their current coop is small with no roosts or water overnight. (It leaks, so I let them in late, out early.) We are building a bigger one, but I still wouldn't leave them alone.