What do you do when you go on vacation?

[SFBayArea]

I wonder how people get away with chickens and vacation time.

I plan to have 4-6(max) chickens. However, my wife is afraid once we have this small flock we'll be bounded to stay at home ALL THE TIME.

How do you people manage your flock and your life? Automate the door to the coop? Auto waterer and large feeder? What about layed out eggs, how do you take care of that if you leave for lets say 7 days?

 

[Joshua G]

I was on vacation for two days and just left out extra water and feed, they were fine when i came back home.

 

[bauerdog]

You can ask a neighbor to check on them. If you have an automated door, it doesn't have to be a daily check in the nicer weathered months. You can sweeten the deal by offering them any eggs they collect are theirs to keep. My 10 lb feeder lasts two to three days in cold weather and so does the similar sized waterer. I have seventeen chickens. Eggs can last on the counter for well over a week. I wouldn't be worried about eggs being collected every other day in good weather

 

[enola]

The neighbor kids come over and take care of my horses, farm dog, and chickens. I put a round bale of hay for the horses they have 80 gallons of water tanks. I put layer pellets in a large tub and 5 gallon jugs of water beside the pen so the kids don't have to carry water. The dog's food is on the deck she drinks from the horse waterer. I prepare everything to make it as simple as possible. They have never let me down

 

[SFBayArea]

Yep, neighbor idea is great, but I am new in the area and don't really know anyone. People in my area kind of snobby. I don't think I can find any local neighbor kid who will be willing to come and check on my chickens when their parents buying them brand new cars at the age of 16 .
Hence, if I am to have my own laying eggs chickens I need to think of full automation to keep girls safe and sound for at least 7-10 days.
I am thinking I can purchase or build automated door and have enclosed run for them. I also found waterer that connects directly to the garden hose. Feeder I guess I can get one large enough to feed 4 chickens for 10 days.
My biggest concern are eggs. I know that eggs will stay fresh for 7-10 days as long as they are in the shaded area, however, I am concerned that during 7-10 days of vacation girls may brake eggs and eat them. I don't want to promote the behavior of them eating their own eggs. So, I was thinking maybe there is a next box design that allows eggs to safely roll off of the nest into a collection compartment?

 

[theoldchick]

I hire a pet sitter just like I would for my dogs. I have an automatic door, and well-built coop, and a page of instructions. Works great for me.

 

[Joshua G]

Yep, neighbor idea is great, but I am new in the area and don't really know anyone. People in my area kind of snobby. I don't think I can find any local neighbor kid who will be willing to come and check on my chickens when their parents buying them brand new cars at the age of 16 .
Hence, if I am to have my own laying eggs chickens I need to think of full automation to keep girls safe and sound for at least 7-10 days.
I am thinking I can purchase or build automated door and have enclosed run for them. I also found waterer that connects directly to the garden hose. Feeder I guess I can get one large enough to feed 4 chickens for 10 days.
My biggest concern are eggs. I know that eggs will stay fresh for 7-10 days as long as they are in the shaded area, however, I am concerned that during 7-10 days of vacation girls may brake eggs and eat them. I don't want to promote the behavior of them eating their own eggs. So, I was thinking maybe there is a next box design that allows eggs to safely roll off of the nest into a collection compartment?

There is a nest design that allows that.
The book "Storey's guide to raising chickens" shows pictures of a nest like that.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Yep, neighbor idea is great, but I am new in the area and don't really know anyone. People in my area kind of snobby. I don't think I can find any local neighbor kid who will be willing to come and check on my chickens when their parents buying them brand new cars at the age of 16 .
Hence, if I am to have my own laying eggs chickens I need to think of full automation to keep girls safe and sound for at least 7-10 days.
I am thinking I can purchase or build automated door and have enclosed run for them. I also found waterer that connects directly to the garden hose. Feeder I guess I can get one large enough to feed 4 chickens for 10 days.
My biggest concern are eggs. I know that eggs will stay fresh for 7-10 days as long as they are in the shaded area, however, I am concerned that during 7-10 days of vacation girls may brake eggs and eat them. I don't want to promote the behavior of them eating their own eggs. So, I was thinking maybe there is a next box design that allows eggs to safely roll off of the nest into a collection compartment?

Check out this thread and also search using the phrase "roll out nest box."

 

[SFBayArea]

Check out this thread and also search using the phrase "roll out nest box."

Thank you!

 

[enola]

Another idea..... conact your local 4H to find a responsible kid. Lots of their parents will provide transportation as part of their child's yearly project.

FFA is another place to check.