I'm going on vacation, what should I do?

[thebroodybunch]

In August I'm going away for 5 days. My chickens will be about 12 weeks old then. How much feed/water should I leave for them. They currently are in a coop with a hatch to their run. I open and close the run for them every day because I'm paranoid of predators. The run isn't exactly tight. So far I haven't seen any signs of predators but I don't want the first attack to happen while I'm away. I can't leave them in the coop for the week though. Do you think they'll be okay if I leave the hatch open? I'm so worried. I only have 7 chickens and I'm worried about losing them.

 

[jvls1942]

this is where good neighbors help each other out..

have someone come and let them out and lock them back in..

 

[Suziers]

We leave most weekends. I have bartered with a couple of neighbors who check on the chickens to make sure they have food and water. They check on the chickens and I will give them eggs.

 

[barngem]

You really cant leave enough food and water. things happen the food gets dumped the water gets tipped over. A neigbor is a good idea

 

[Chris623]

I haven't found a "chicken sitter" yet, but I raise llamas and when I'm out of town, a college boy stops by once a day and feeds them...........and makes sure everything is okay, i.e. auto-waterers working properly, etc. I pay him $20 a day. He donates the money to his church's youth group for their trips. Works for me, works for him. I'm sure I'll have someone let the chickens out of the coop in the morning and put them up at night................maybe for all the eggs they lay while I'm gone. (if all works well, that would be about 100 eggs for the week) ((that should make one heck of an omlette!!!!!))

But I'd never feel comfortable leaving my animals totally unattended.

 

[WriterofWords]

If you know anyone who has a babysitter, yes for kids, ask for their number. A lot of teens who babysit would love to earn some extra money by just stopping by once or twice a day to open and close doors, check feed, something that takes half an hour and pays them.

 

[chickenshagg]

If you have kids maybe they have a friend that is old enough and responsible enough. We just went out of the country for two weeks so I had a neighbor boy that is 14 and good friends with my sons come and take care of the chickens. He let them out each morning and put them away each night as well as fed and watered them. He also took care of my wifes three cats and picked up our mail and papers. I paid him two hundred dollars. He thinks that I paid him too much but I know that he saved me a lot of money and worries.

 

[Godiva]

I can sympathise with your dilemma. But as was posted earlier, you have to assume that waterers are going to get knocked over ... it is amazing what those feathery critters get up to. Also, if a predator got in and hurt any birds it would be terrible if you had wounded birds with no attention for days!!! Sometimes 4H kids will do livestock 'sitting' too. not sure where you live but 5 days is too long with no-one going by. IMHO of course.

 

[thebroodybunch]

Thanks for all the advice. I'll see if someone wants to make some money while I'm away. I hope I can find someone trustworthy who will care as much for my girls as I do.

 

[WriterofWords]

4 H and FFA kids make great sitters!