Leaving the chicks with a pet sitter

[Ccort]

I am very nervous about leaving my 10 week old chicks with a pet sitter this week. Ill be gone for two weeks. The sitters will be letting them out of the coop in the morning at 730, checking in at 430 on the chicks and my other pets, and a neighbor will lock up the coop at about 9pm.

Any advice to forward to the sitter?

I am worried about the high temps expected next week, including a high of 95 degrees on Wednesday and the fact that I won't be here to check on them during those warmest parts of the day or even bring them into the house to cool off if needed. Can they take this kind of heat safely, at at this age?

The run is shaded and I have an exhaust fan in the coop. What temp do you recommend I keep the exhaust fan at? I'm not even sure if they will go in to cool down, everything is still so new to me and them.

Appreciate your honest advice here. I am a very worried new mom.

 

[knobhillfarm]

With a shaded run and plenty of water, they will be fine. I find mine really enjoy a spot of wet sand in the run when it’s really hot to help cool down but it’s not necessary at those temps. They also enjoy some frozen fruits/vegetables and ice in their water to help stay cool.

 

[SilverBirds]

Our temps are also creeping into the mid 90Fs this week. As long as they have plenty of shade and water everything should be fine. If they have a place to sandbathe in the run that'd be an extra bonus.

One way I like to keep my animals cool is giving them frozen treats. Over the next few days you can freeze veggies in ice that the sitter can give them every few days.

Do you know who your sitter is going to be? Whenever I need a sitter I bring them to the house and show them how to do everything. I let them practice feeding, collecting eggs, etc. with my supervision. I also have a written check list with notes they can referee to and my phone number in case of emergency.

 

[Ccort]

Our temps are also creeping into the mid 90Fs this week. As long as they have plenty of shade and water everything should be fine. If they have a place to sandbathe in the run that'd be an extra bonus.

One way I like to keep my animals cool is giving them frozen treats. Over the next few days you can freeze veggies in ice that the sitter can give them every few days.

Do you know who your sitter is going to be? Whenever I need a sitter I bring them to the house and show them how to do everything. I let them practice feeding, collecting eggs, etc. with my supervision. I also have a written check list with notes they can referee to and my phone number in case of emergency.

I have frozen chunks of melon in the freezer for them but the sitters won't arrive until 430 so by the time they give it I'm not sure how much it'll serve its purpose?
The sitter is new to me and never been around chixks, which makes me extremely uneasy but a sitter is hard to find.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I wouldn't worry too much about the frozen fruits. Most important thing is to always make sure they have ready access to water - if you normally use a nipple waterer it wouldn't hurt to add an open source of water too (I use terracotta plant saucers), just to make sure the birds can get a lot of water if needed. If the run has good shade then the chickens won't be exposed to the worst of the temperature highs, and 95 shouldn't be bad enough to harm birds that are in good health.

No experience with fans.

 

[aart]

Any advice to forward to the sitter?

Have them come over and walk thru regular chores with you.
Write it all down so they have something to reference.

 

[Ccort]

I wouldn't worry too much about the frozen fruits. Most important thing is to always make sure they have ready access to water - if you normally use a nipple waterer it wouldn't hurt to add an open source of water too (I use terracotta plant saucers), just to make sure the birds can get a lot of water if needed. If the run has good shade then the chickens won't be exposed to the worst of the temperature highs, and 95 shouldn't be bad enough to harm birds that are in good health.

No experience with fans.

I added extra tarp so the entire run is covered, versus half of it. They do have a second water bowl, the sitter will just need to fill it.

 

[ShelbyCiave]

I am very nervous about leaving my 10 week old chicks with a pet sitter this week. Ill be gone for two weeks. The sitters will be letting them out of the coop in the morning at 730, checking in at 430 on the chicks and my other pets, and a neighbor will lock up the coop at about 9pm.

Any advice to forward to the sitter?

I am worried about the high temps expected next week, including a high of 95 degrees on Wednesday and the fact that I won't be here to check on them during those warmest parts of the day or even bring them into the house to cool off if needed. Can they take this kind of heat safely, at at this age?

The run is shaded and I have an exhaust fan in the coop. What temp do you recommend I keep the exhaust fan at? I'm not even sure if they will go in to cool down, everything is still so new to me and them.

Appreciate your honest advice here. I am a very worried new mom.

I have noticed my chickens go a little brain dead when they are too hot and literally look like they don’t know how or where to get water. I would put extra waterers in their coop in multiple areas. When it’s hot, I fill plastic water bottles with water/electrolytes and freeze them and then cut the bottles open with a box cutter to get the massive ice cube out and I put it in their waterers when I fill them with fresh water. Maybe have some of those ready to go and have the sitter put them in the water each day?

 

[Quarterhorses1]

They should be fine. You can always give them frozen peas!!! Mine go CRAZY for a handful of frozen peas

 

[ashcons]

[...] chickens go a little brain dead when [...]

Just normal chickens.