new here

[swift4me]

HI:

This looks like a great site.

I live in southwestern France and finally have a perfect setup to try raising some chickens. All my neighbors have between 20 and 40 birds that free range on their farms all day and come back to the barn at night. They are all pretty low key about the chickens and primarily raise sheep and free range pigs. We have alot of foxes around as well.

My first question is about leaving chickens for two days or so. If I have to go away for the weekend, assuming they have an adequate coop, food, water and 4 or 5 square feet of outdoor fenced run area per chicken, does this work?

I've spent alot of time around chickens on farms, but I've never been the one who took care of them.

Thanks for any help.

Pete

 

[canada-goose]

Welcome from the other side of the world!

They should be fine for a few days if you leave them with plenty of food and water.

 

[Illia]

Hey there from the US.

and

- You're from the best chicken country there is IMO. - Our Marans, Polish, Houdans etc came from France.

 

[swift4me]

Thanks for the reply.

My coop is around 100 sq. feet with stone walls and ventilation, and the fenced range area is around 250 sq ft.

If all goes well, they can walk and peck around a 5 acre pasture and forest during the day.

Thanks again,

Pete

 

[wolftracks]

from California!

Boy wouldn't it be nice to trade Marans eggs from France?

Hope you like it here.

 

[LittleMamaBigPapa]

Sounds like a whole lot of space for playing! Would your chickens be in a fully enclosed run while you are gone a few days? If not, they could be at risk of predators?

 

[geojane42]

Welcome! I'm new here too. We have family in France who have lots of chickens and other birds. That's where we caught the chicken bug I think.

 

[swift4me]

My hope is that the run, partially closed in by 4' high stone walls, and completed with a fox-proof fence, will be their place to spend the day, and the coop will be inside that fenced area.

Lots to learn, but the farm where my wife works wants to give me some young hens and a rooster if I want. Sounds like it is time to start. I haven't seen the rooster, but I think it is what they call a Coq du Gascon, a beautiful big black rooster. My other neighbor has one.

Pete

 

[4-H chicken mom]

and