Is it OK to leave enough food/water when going away for 3-4 days?

[ichimuj]

Hi, I'm still learning and planning a coop...no chickens yet. I live in San Francisco and I'm planning on getting 3 hens in the near future.

One question that keeps holding me back from chicken ownership: what do you do when you go away on a long weekend or a vacation? Can you leave more than enough food/water or is that dangerous?

My coop will have an enclosed run, so I am thinking I'll just leave the door to the run open for the girls to go in/out at night...

Unfortunately I don't know any local chicken owners to swap chicken-sitting with...(anybody out there in SF?) I don't think there is 4H or FFA in the city...The closest 4H is in Pacifica, and I'm not sure if somebody would be willing to come all the way up to the city to care for chickens everyday...

Any suggestions? I really want to get chickens, but this concerns me.
Thanks!!

 

[Mahlzeit]

Hi there and welcome to BYC. I don't see any issue with leaving enough food and water for a few days. I have a 30lb feeder in my coop and in my run I have a 4gallon and a 3gallon waterer. I could leave them for a few days with that and not worry about it. The one main issue I would see would be predators. I am in NY and not really sure what kind of predator issues you would have by you. I have my run fenced in with that green coated wire fence 1" x 2" and it has netting over the top. We have weasel's and martins here however that can get right through that wire fencing so mine have to be locked in their coop every night. If you have a predator proof coop and run and ample food and water left for them I don't see an issue with leaving them for a few days.

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

I have seen other posts where people say it is OK. Just have to make sure the water/feeder can't get knocked over. We have the outside water hanging at the moment and the chickens get under it and bump it all the time and soon there is no water (we are changing that set-up soon). The inside water and feeder are on mason blocks and those are secure and no problems.

Someone from the San Francisco area replied to one of my posts the other day so there are people in your area. May be try a search. There is a thread on here I think it is called "CA anyone". May be post there and see if anyone answers.

Get chickens they are WAY to much fun!

Sandee

 

[LegHorn-BusHorn]

I did leave for 4 days and everything was fine. I do have a playhouse type of coop and the chickens did have to stay in a smaller area, but just not in the coop. My son came by and checked on them but did not let them out in the run.

I felt a little bad, but they were just fine. The coop and little area is very secure. Hope this helps. I have 5 chickens.

 

[Puck-Puck]

Would you really need a chicken owner to do the honours? If you had a dog or cat, would you ask a dog or cat owner to top up the food and water, or just any neighbour who was willing? (I mean, you wouldn't refuse to water a neighbour's plants while they were away, just because you had no plants yourself!) Ask a friend or neighbour!

 

[bryan8]

Also remember that water is more important than food. Make sure you have a back up water for them, incase they knock one ova

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I think it's best to have someone at least come by & check on their well-being once a day while you're away. If you don't want to impose upon or trust them to do the actual chore of feeding & watering you could fill everything full enough to supply them for the time you're gone. But there's always the risk they could knock over the water fount or have something come in & bother them or eat up their food.

You wouldn't need a genuine farm hand to watch over your chickens. I find it best to either ask another chicken keeper who lives nearby, or a next-door neighbor who could easily just come over and check that all was well with your birds. I always offer them all the eggs that are laid in my absence as payment for their help.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I leave for up to a week. I've got 10 birds, huge run, automatic door (best thing I ever spent money one!!) 30lb feeder and 3-5 gallon waterers. Have never run out of food or water even in the summer

 

[ichimuj]

Thank you everybody for all of the advice! I have neighbors who would check on the birds, just not sure if they would be interested in feeding and watering everyday (although you are right...who could pass up fresh eggs??). I really appreciate the help, and I'm looking forward to getting chickens!

 

[emit]

coyotemagic, What are the auto doors? how do they work?