Leaving for 3 days... What do I do?

[cejunes]

This is the first time I need to leave my flock for more than a couple of hours. We are heading out of town for 3 days and I'm wondering if they'll be okay if I fill both waterers and fill the feeder as well as lay a bag of feed out in the run for them, or should I get ahold of a neighbor and have them checked on daily? Their run is attached to their coop and completely enclosed with chicken wire and half of it is shaded with a tarp. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ducks4you]

Put out too much feed, preferably where it won't get wet if it rains. If your neighbor can check on the water, do it. Also, if you have 2 extra waterers OR dog bowls, put those out, too. If you don't mind spending some money, buy a shallow, rubber "feeder" for large livestock, and fill that with the brim with water.

 

[cejunes]

I think we may have an old livestock feeder in the back shed. I'll do that. Thanks.

 

[elmo]

If they're not locked inside the coop at night, the chickenwire won't keep them safe if a predator happens to visit at night. Is there any way you can get someone to lock them in at night and let them out in the morning? It's only three days, but if you're unlucky a predator might pick one of those nights to visit.

 

[NeeleysAVLChicks]

Quote:
Agreed! Chicken wire is nothing but an annoyance for a determined raccoon, dog, etc. I'd be less concerned about them running out of food and water then I would be about a predator finding them at night.

 

[scooter147]

I have to agree with the other posts about the chickenwire. It's just something that annoys a racoon and makes it mad.
I would really try to find a neighbor who is willing to take care of them for you.
I lost my chicken sitter two years ago and have not taken a trip away from home except for 4 days each of the last two winters (when I know they can safely leave them locked in the coop).
I have given serious thoughts of getting out of the chicken "business" because of it's restrictions on my movements but I keep talking myself out of it. I figure I can sacrifice 7 days of "vacation" (actually I'm more tired when I get back then when I left) for the 358 days of the year when I really enjoy having them around. I think I would be bored silly in the evening and weekends if I didn't have my critters.

 

[PhilErvin]

As an added precaution, go out and spread urine around the run. Some say it helps and others are skeptics but I figure , Why Not. Can't hurt and could possibly deter a Predator.
When you get back and have time to think about it you might want to start thinking about a long term feeder and long term waterer. I made a feeder out of a 4" sewer pipe about 5' long with an elbow at the bottom which empties into a 1' trough.
My waterer is connected to fresh water (Plasson Waterer) so my girls can go a week without me as long as I have someone gathering the eggs, which is easy to find. Good Luck

 

[scooter147]

I'm one of those skeptics on the urine thing. Just last night I peed all around my coop because of a pesky racoon that was spending his days under there. This morning the bugger was back under the coop.

 

[ZooMummzy]

I agree with the chicken wire and also vote for a neighbor to check on them at least once during the day and lock them up at night. I would never leave my chickens unattended even for overnight.

 

[achickenfamily]

I go out of town for weekends often. I talked with my neighbor and for a dozen eggs each time, she will come over and shut the coop door at night (my run is directly connected to coop as well) I also have their water sitting right next to the run door, that way if the girls need water it is easily accesible for my neighbor.

This system has worked well for us for a while and I have never had any problems. It does help my neighbors are wonderful!