What to do when out of town?

[kris13]

So we're trying to leave town for a week or so. We have our older (three years) chickens in their coop/run area, they'll be fine. We have seven week-old chicks that, for now, are still in their set-up in our basement. Not sure if we should leave them in there (they're running out of space / risk one gets out) or if we should put them in our newer/larger coop for the time being. I like the latter, but we have a heat warning until the day before we leave, and he's not sure we should put them in a new environment right when we leave. But I don't think we should put them in the new coop while it's so hot / he thinks it's better if they have a few days with us to get used to it. (BIL/SIL will check on both sets for food/water, but they're not familiar with chickens.)

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would put them out now (well, 2 or 3 weeks ago actually, but "now") depending on 1) how hot is it supposed to get? 2) is there some shade in the run where they can get a little relief?

My problem with waiting til the day before you leave is exactly what you said, that it doesn't give you much time to make sure they know how to get around in the new space and find food, water and shelter.

 

[kris13]

Up until Saturday (day before we leave) we're in the high 90's for the high. The new coop isn't attached to the run yet, so no shade, but it's large enough / they'd have about 14 sq ft. per bird, and he could put in a fan. Don't think he has enough time to get it attached to the run and we want to set it up, of course, so both groups see each other before they actually can mingle.

 

[rosemarythyme]

At least space isn't an issue.

Do you have a tarp or shade cloth that you could set up to provide a little shade? Or can you put out pans of cool water or cool snacks (a little refrigerated watermelon maybe) so they have a way to cooling off? Not sure how well a fan would work, or if the chicks would think they're in a wind tunnel!

On one hand, yes that's pretty hot weather, on the other, I'd bet these chicks would love to get out of the basement.