I consider my pen predator proof. Have netting over the top to keep the hawks and owls out, and a secure fence. So, I leave the small "chicken door" open all the time, so the chickens can come out early in the morning, without my having to let them out. I have large feeders, and fill them, and I have made waterers out of 5 gallon buckets set in metal "hog pans", and we just got back from an 8 day vacation. A young neighbor came every day just to make sure nothing was wrong, but the feed and water held for the 8 days. It would have been fine if he had just come every 2 or 3 days, but I wanted him to gather the eggs daily, so they didn't start breaking and eating them.