Official BYC Poll: When You Travel, Who Looks After Your Chickens?

[Ruffled Feathers]

I have two people that watch my girls and dogs - my neighbor and my daughter. Both already get free eggs and I watch their dogs when needed. For the chickens, I have it down to where they only have to collect eggs (as long as it’s above freezing and it’s just for a couple days) and look in to make sure that is everything is good with the girls and their food & water.

In reality, we don’t travel like we used to as flying has become more of a hassle. We mainly do long weekends where we drive so it works out well.

 

[SueT]

I avoid traveling, but we have 3 family members living here now, and when we do travel, we don’t all go together. There are other animals and things to take care of besides chickens, We do have a neighbor we can call in a pinch.

 

[PippinTheChicken]

My neighbors care for my chickens. They love it. They get the eggs. Last year they bought some more bedding for them so obviously I gave them the money for that.

 

[Thunder344]

My great Uncle usually comes down and watches over the chickens while my family is gone. His brother lives with us, so thats why he usually comes down, and takes some eggs. If he isn't able to it is usually other family members.

 

[GregnLety]

We have 2 different people. One is my best friend who is semi retired and the other is a vet tech from the clinic that cares for our babies.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

I had my neighbor help when i didnt have a automatic door or a self waterer. I have a 8ft x 6 in pipe that i fill with water and 1 inch pipes for the actaul chicken drinking cups. Then i have a little giant feeder that i fill up, now. So now i can leave them for a week without anyone being there. But i still have my neighbor check on them.

 

[HappyClucker7]

I've only had to go away twice in the last six years. But when I did have to go away, I got someone to watch them that had chickens too, so I knew that my chickens would be well cared for.

 

[Owllea]

I paid a coworker to come care for our chickens twice a day for about ten days last summer. It was a forty minute round trip drive for her, so tried to pay for her time and gas. I think she took eggs to share with family, and her younger sister helped too. Great way to teach people to love chickens!
Recent trip occurred during that Midwest snow storm a few weeks ago so my mother-in-law (who lives closer) watched them. She told me later, “ I talked to those chickens more than anyone else that two weeks!” We have a covered run that they choose to stay in when it snows, so they didn’t wander too much. Worked out well, but you don’t realize how much of your day is chickens until you have someone else do it!

 

[nnumb3rulz]

Provide enough food and water and go. Their just chickens.

 

[nnumb3rulz]

Provide enough food and water and go. They're just chickens.