I plan on leaving chickens alone at least one week

[IdyllwildAcres]

I am building my first coop and run combination and part of the deal with DH is that the chickens will not tie us down. I want to be able to leave the chickens on their own for at least a week at a time, 2 weeks with an occasional check in by a human. I searched the threads and found one where this poor woman missed her sisters wedding because everyone told her what a horrible idea it was. So I have read all that now I am hoping to hear from those of you that are set up to leave them on their own.

My coop and run will be one in the same, only 3 walls open to the run. Lots of concrete and Hardware cloth. It will be as close to fort knox as I can make it I am not worried about the raccoons getting them. I am planning on 22 gallon Brute trash cans (could go 35) for the feed and water, the water will have horizontal nipples or cups and heated with a stock tank heater and thermocube in winter. The feed will be raised off the ground and accessed by the chickens pecking at a device under the cans which will drop food as they want it. Nesting boxes will be roll out boxes with an outside access, egg area will be heated by seedling matt and another thermocube. Of course I will test everything out and know how long things last long before I ever leave them alone. What am I missing? What are you doing? Remember, new coop so I can do almost anything now I would rather get it right from the beginning. Thanks everyone I look forward to hearing your experiences for what works for you.

 

[iokra]

I have about 15 chickens and I am leaving them alone sometimes for more then two weeks at the time with nobody checking on them. I have an insulated coop and about one acre enclosure (it's really a paddock with side wire). I have two rain barrels for water with a side cap for drinking that works based on gravity - bought on eBay see link, but mine are connected to giant rain barrels (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dual-Outlet...619148?hash=item1e6f9d9ccc:g:T5YAAOSw1ZBUshCo) and I also have a heated base with an other chicken water on top inside the coop. I have a 50 pound feeder inside the coop plus couple of other feeders hanging from the ceiling of my coop. Outside the paddock enclosure I have my two Anatolian shepherds dogs. I never got a raccoon (or any other predator) even though my area is full of them and I never lock them at night.

 

[6littlegirls]

Well I left the girls for a week and they survived with plenty of water and feed still left. Did a quick clean and fluff and they watched had check everything out as I cleaned. My sitter got 6 eggs every day while we where away. We got down to minus 31 celcius and they where fine. I know that we can leave them and not worry now as long as we do good prepp before hand.

 

[Little Fuzzy]

I would not worry for a minute about leaving my girls for a week, as long as you are sure that they live in Fort Knox. Free feed food and watering they should be fine as long as they have enough room in the run so there is not an aggression issue. My coop is separated from the run with a small auto chicken door that opens at 8:30am and closes at 8:00pm. Even though I free range all day I built my run big enough so I could leave them in there and go on vacation.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

what about power failure, or damage due to winter storms, etc. etc? I would worry to death about them if they were mine. But, I do tend to worry about everything. Plus members frequently complain about neighbors or others hired to come in and care for birds, that never show up. I used to breed dogs and never went anywhere because I couldn't trust others to care for them like I did.

Well if the power goes out lets hope at least one of the watering systems does not freeze up, I will test and re-test all my systems many times before leaving them. I must have a life, and for me a life requires travel! My first choice is that the neighbor checks in on them, but I will not ask them if I am only gone a few days save that for a week or longer. I want to know they will be ok if the neighbors are not available, if whomever is checking on them does not.

Gary from Idyllwild Ca here

 

[redsoxs]

I've never had a situation where I've had to leave my birds unattended where I at least didn't have someone check on them everyday. I think if your coop is truly secure and the food supply is adequate, the only thing I'd recommend is additional water should the nipples fail for some reason. It would seem to be cheap insurance to leave out some flat pans of water should the unforeseen happen. Good luck to you!

 

[Adalida]

I've had to leave mine for a week. Of course I fretted about them but they were fine. If you really wanted to splurge you could get one of those cameras that you can access with your phone and see what they're doing. I left mine with three water sources, two feeders, and added some "boredom busters" the day I left- a giant heap of leaves/straw/yard litter to scratch through, a head of lettuce, etc, to keep them busy for awhile.

 

[Folly's place]

I've never left mine like that! Find a friend, relative, or neighbor who can visit least once daily, check on things, and get the free eggs while you are gone. Mary

 

[Heron's Nest Farm]

I would put it together with as much run as possible. Then I would make sure to have a week test run with the water and food. If the food doesn't fail and your water is FOOL proof, you are fine. If eggs build up it's no the end of the world.

Your hens should be 7 months +. Older hens know what to do. A week of confinement in a smaller run with adequate supplies so as not to cause food aggression is fine. 400 sq ft for a week, with access to larger ground the rest of the year will suffice.

15 birds is totally manageable. If you can I would have someone check in on them 1/2 through to check the water. No water will kill your hens.

I Thinking ahead is wise. You don't want to be trapped by beloved pets.

 

[Adalida]

I am only asking this because I don't know!

What about the eggs? What happens to them if you don't collect them everyday? 

I have always had someone come at least check on them once a day, when we leave. Usually it's just a welfare check to make sure all is well. They get the eggs to keep for their trouble. A few times in the summer it was insanely hot and the water needed refilled twice. 

The one time I left for a week, it was cold but not freezing so I just figured the eggs could pile up. I've never had a problem with chickens eating eggs fortunately.