Vacation?

[rmonge00]

My wife is English, so we do have to go see her family from time to time so I really do not have much choice than to leave them here.... I could probably convince someone to come up maybe 3 times per week. I do not currently have a run, but was intending on putting them out to pasture daily on 3 acres. It would probably be too risky to let them pasture without anyone there, so should I build a run?

I probably will slaughter about half of them before I leave, so the in the coop there would be about 10 sq feet per chicken. Enough maybe????

What are your thoughts? Thanks for the advice.

Ryan

 

[enggass]

Even with the space what about the heat factor leaving them in the coop? Where do you live?

 

[cluckin_crazy]

I'd say that unless you have someone come let them in and out every day, change water, check feed levels etc - it may just be best to wait and get the chickens after you return. I have family that lives close and can come daily when I'm out of town and I only have 6 chickens. I know I can leave them enough food and water to last a long weekend or such, but not for 2 weeks.

 

[jettgirl24]

I leave mine for a few days when I take my horse to competitions but usually no more that 3. I live in a mild climate so heat is rarely an issue for me. If you are in an area where you don't have to worry about high temperatures I personally would think 3 times a week is fine as long as the visits are evenly spread out and you have a really big waterer (preferably several).

 

[rmonge00]

OK, so I have already ordered the chicks, so I need to figure out some sort of way to make this work. If my brother is done travelling he will be able to house-sit, if not, it sounds like I will nedd to get someone to come up at least every 3rd day... I live in Seattle, which can get hot in the summer, but is usually not above 80 - also I have about 4 inches of ventilation around the top of the entire coop and two vents through the roof. What do you think guys....

Thanks,

Ryan

 

[paceysgl5]

I don't see anything wrong with your sq. footage/bird at all. Not sure what ppl are griping about. However, I can't imagine leaving for 2 weeks with them cooped up inside. A run would be great, but even with that, having someone come every 3 days or so should be sufficient. You'll know by then how long your feeders/waterers last and can judge if you need more (ie if a waterer is empty in 2 days, you need to be sure to have at least 2).

Also, make sure you find a trust worthy person. I keep reading about friends/relatives who say they'll come but then don't and all the birds are dead. Horrible.

 

[critterranch]

i am worried about heat because my coop gets to over 90 by 10 am. in july aug weather. mine would die from heat stroke in less than 24 hours.

 

[HEChicken]

Quote:
They used to be fun. Now I don't like to get away too much. When I *am* away, I spend the whole time wanting to get home to work on the yard, check in on the chooks and so on.

 

[The Chicken People]

Pay jettgirl24 to come by and check on them? Or someone else close by? Advertise for a chicken sitter? I am faced with the same problem wedding in vegas need to go to for two days maybe three! And then in August going to Oregon for a week or two!

 

[critterranch]

90 is with the human door open 38x6 feet. if it was shut it would be over a hundred my noon. in one day.