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

[LegHorn-BusHorn]

you can also use rabbit waterers its a gravity feed and the water stays as very clean. Chickens are curious and are very able to get water that way. Mine use it some of the time, but I just use it as a backup.

 

[Autumn Mama]

With some hand-made notices dropped off in some mailboxes or on doorsteps, you may be able to find a responsible teen who enjoys animals and wouldn't mind earning a little money. That is what we're planning to do!

I love camping too much to let my new flock stop me from camping R&R.

Get the chooks, the details will all sort themselves out!!!

 

[newchicksnducks]

Three or four days is not too long...when you first put your birds in the coop, you often leave them for a week in there so they realize the coop is their new home. I would leave plenty of food and 2 waterers in case of tipping, etc. I would double think letting them be outside while you are gone. We lost 2 ducks to a weasel who got through 2x2 fencing in the run. Luckily the chickens were secure in their coop. Try adding something new in the coop - - cabbage on a string, flock block, etc to help eliminate boredom from the lockdown while you are gone. And it's always best to have someone check on your chickens a time or 4 while you are gone!

 

[ichimuj]

Wow! I love all these ideas! We like camping too, and I think the idea about flyers for teens is a good one. Maybe I'll post something at our local high school once school starts. I really want chickens but I'm just making sure these little details are clear before I get my girlies!

 

[Gillian]

Would also love to hear about the automatic doors. How do you make sure they don't close too early and shut out one of the "girls"?

 

[emit]

well still waiting on the auto doors an how they work?

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Sorry I went out of town for the day yesterday and just got back in.

I bought on of those auto doors from Foy's Pigeons. Opens and closes for the times you set it for. Do a search and you will find several threads here. There is even one that folks have been working on building their own, but I have no mechanical abilities and buying one was the best for me.

 

[cmom]

I have left for vacation of 2/3 weeks. I am lucky that I have people who will look after my birds and collect the eggs. I have an electric fence around my coop, run and a fenced in chicken yard. I never shut their pop door even when I'm home. It's always opened. No predator is going to mess with the fence (6000 volts). I have accidentally touched it before. I got quite a shock. I can only imagine a critter who weighs far less than I do coming in contact with the wire. I have heard some critters that found the fence and I guarantee they will not be back.

 

[SF Chick]

Ichimuj, I live in SF (Richmond district) and I have 4 18 week old chickens. Neighbor kids are happy to change the water and check on the food -- my feeder holds maybe 5 days worth of food for them. The main issue for chicken raising in SF is predators -- your coop needs to be like Fort Knox to keep out raccoons. My run is theoretically predator proof but I still make sure they are closed inside the coop at dusk. Also, hawks are a real threat. I do let my girls free range some but I worry about it.

 

[briesberrypatch]

I have two petsitters (they're a team) who take care of all of our animals, including the hens. Actually, we're just outside of their usual territory, but they made an exception for us because they love chickens and really wanted the opportunity to take care of them.

I bet you could find at least one pet sitter in SF who is willing to take care of chickens.