Vacation and weekends

[hookie]

Can I leave the girls in the coop for two or three days. A neighbor will feed and water them every day. I have 6 girls that have about 60sf of mostly grass under coop for them to run around.

 

[rosemarythyme]

So coop plus 60 sq ft of run? Sure I don't see a problem as long as the neighbor is reliable.

 

[Parront]

Chickens are not like dogs, they are fine without our presence for a weekend. If you have a large feeder and waterer, that can last a couple of days, you will worry less about the neighbor's reliability. The neighbor can check the food and change the water and just be sure everything is OK. In Arizona water is so important I have an extra large water container even for small chicks.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

A little incentive never hurts! Let them know that they can keep any eggs that they collect and it might help with regular check-ups on your chooks.

 

[GRB73]

Sure. We've left for as long as a week. Our neighbor checked in the morning, added food and fresh water, then came by at night to shut the pop door. I left a bag of greens to go in a suet cage to keep it interesting for the ladies.

 

[Aunt Angus]

All fantastic advice! As a chicken owner and avid traveler, I can say that a reliable neighbor is a TREASURE!

 

[Folly's place]

Yes! We do the same thing, except we have two nearby friends that check on things, and communicate with each other. They get all the eggs while we are gone, and make sure everything is good. Extra feeders and waterers, all full, and extra feed available too.
Leave written instructions, especially if things do go wrong, and phone numbers!
Veterinary care directions, with phone numbers, and a note to the vet before you leave. Be as clear as possible about this; zero dollars spent at the vet's, or no limits, or somewhere in between.
Mary

 

[hookie]

Chicken people are by far the best, thank you for responding. Locked in coop they have 60 sf of room to run around on the ground, no way for pest like coyotes or foxes to get up in hardware cloth 1 foot underground. All latches locked. They have another 30*30foot run when we let them out in the morning.

 

[hookie]

Chicken people are by far the best, thank you for responding. Locked in coop they have 60 sf of room to run around on the ground, no way for pest like coyotes or foxes to get up in hardware cloth 1 foot underground. All latches locked. They have another 30*30foot run when we let them out in the morning.

I don't want my neighbor to let them out at all and just let them have the 60sf and fresh food and water. These girls are so much fun they have become part of the family. I'm ready to pay my neighbor 10$ a day just to check and feed them. Even our chocolate lab loves them. She sits with me every morning when I'm drinking my coffee in the run. Thanks you all for response. Ps they are better then guinea pigs. Anyone want two.

 

[Folly's place]

Mine don't free range when we are gone, they stay in their coop and safe run. Plenty of room, and safe!
This year we aren't going anywhere...
Mary