"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[Mcm6583]

Ok so I have a questions about leaving my chickens while I'm on vacation for a week. I know it's getting hot.... And only hotter from here. What do y'all think needs to be done. I have a friend that can check on them once or twice, but she knows nothing about chickens.( I just started too.. So I know nothing as well!) Any and all advice would be awesome!
They do have a lot of shade and a breeze from the lake..

 

[PrimroseMom1]

Ok so I have a questions about leaving my chickens while I'm on vacation for a week. I know it's getting hot.... And only hotter from here. What do y'all think needs to be done. I have a friend that can check on them once or twice, but she knows nothing about chickens.( I just started too.. So I know nothing as well!) Any and all advice would be awesome!
They do have a lot of shade and a breeze from the lake..

Once or twice in a week?? I don't know your set up, but if I left for a week, especially in summer, and someone checked once or twice in a week, I think I would come home to dead chickens. Someone else may have a different opinion. Once I got my chickens, I haven't left home except overnight and even then took precautions and had them cared for twice in 24 hours. Kuntrygirl left for some days once and had someone to do full care. It was horrible what she came home to. Welcome to the life of a "farmer". Sorry to be harsh.

 

[Mcm6583]

Once or twice in a week?? I don't know your set up, but if I left for a week, especially in summer, and someone checked once or twice in a week, I think I would come home to dead chickens. Someone else may have a different opinion. Once I got my chickens, I haven't left home except overnight and even then took precautions and had them cared for twice in 24 hours. Kuntrygirl left for some days once and had someone to do full care. It was horrible what she came home to. Welcome to the life of a "farmer". Sorry to be harsh.

Not harsh at all! That's why I asked incase I needed to make different arrangements!

 

[LindaB220]

Someone at the feed store yesterday said they use garden neem oil extract (mixed with water in a pump sprayer, as per instruction) and spray down their chicken coop with it every two weeks in the summer and also if they see any on their chicken they dunk (bathe) their chickens in the same solution to rid them of lice and mites. Anyone have experience with this or advice for or against? Thanks for your help!

That sounds like a good plan to me. I've heard neem oil is good. I wonder how much to add?

 

[Angelicisi]

I agree a week is a long time. Twice is nice but depending on ones set up they really may need more checks.
Are they free range? Are the cooped? If cooped are they in the shade most of the day? A trough of water is a risk of mosquito haven in a week's time, a 5 gallon auto waterer would be better. Depending on the amount of birds may need a lot of access to water. Feed can be put in a DIY PVC feeder made to hold a lot of feed to be dispensed over time, still risk feed getting wet or damp in our humidity but less than if just put out in a trough.

I'd ask your friend to come at least 4x's to check water amount left and temp by touch at minimum. Chickens won't drink water hotter than their body temps, you won't be around to recognize distress

If she absolutely can't I'd make sure 5 gallon waterer was full & shaded and find a way to keep food dry & flowing slowly so they don't just dive into a feeder and scratch it all around the 1st day.

Once or twice in a week?? I don't know your set up, but if I left for a week, especially in summer, and someone checked once or twice in a week, I think I would come home to dead chickens. Someone else may have a different opinion. Once I got my chickens, I haven't left home except overnight and even then took precautions and had them cared for twice in 24 hours. Kuntrygirl left for some days once and had someone to do full care. It was horrible what she came home to. Welcome to the life of a "farmer". Sorry to be harsh.

 

[Angelicisi]

I have neem oil. I can send you some concentrate pure neem to mix and try. I haven't used it on the animals, I have used it in the gardens against certain pests. It's stinky tho and it has a tendency to discolor leaves exposed to full Sun (feathers I dunno) I'd do quite a bit of research before spraying or dipping my chooks in it only because it has children caution statements on bottles I have, but those could be because its not diluted too... A heavily diluted spray may work really well. It usually needs reapplication after rains in the garden.

That sounds like a good plan to me.  I've heard neem oil is good.  I wonder how much to add? 

 

[topdog24]

You can buy a feed block at the feed store that lasts for several days, mine lasted 10+days with 39 chicks with my normal feeder, just put it in a dry place, water and temp are not as easy to remedy, I have an auto waterer set up that lasts for 3 weeks, a shallow water pan in the shade w

 

[topdog24]

Will help with the temp
Someting for them to stand in to cool their ft. Mine are doing this in the heat of the day

 

[NycGrlTrNCuntry]

I think a setup like this is a good idea for those of us planning on a couple of days of relaxation

 

[Ron Skekel]

They do have beaded comb and tuffs. Here are my Amercaunas.

The beads are flat and clearly formed in two rows. I fear those are not Amercaunas, maybe Amercauna mixes. They will be beautiful. You'll enjoy them.

Can I clean my coops with a diluted chlorox mix?

That's what I use not every time but twice a year or if I had an outbreak of some kind. Pam