What to feed while away

[hlhutchinson]

we will be taking our first vacation sense we got our chickens they are almost 4 months old. Normally they get to free range during the day when I'm home. We have a covered coop with plenty of space but in the morning when I let them out they all race out to the yard (makes me smile every time)
We are having chicken sitters check in them I was wondering what would be the best treats to give them due to the fact they will be in the run for 5 days. I have a small wire bird feeder caged that you can hang and put lettuce in, also have a things you can stick through a Apple (I know some say Apple seeds are not good so we don't do a lot of Apple but every now and then they get an Apple), cucumber... and hang for them to eat.
We told them if they want to hang out and feel comfortable they can let the chickens wander the yard and explained the best way to get them back in the cadge, but not sure how much or if at all they will do this.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I would just give them the same chicken feed you have been feeding them.
It is nutritionally complete and may miss being spoiled for a couple days but rest assured, the regular feed is better for the time being.

 

[Patinas]

I've left my flock for 5 days and didn't have anyone to check on them but I made sure they had plenty of their regular feed and lots of water. They did just fine!

I too let mine free range and give them treats pretty regularly and I felt a little guilty that they didn't get those things while we were away but on the other hand, having chickens is not a reason to never get away and have some fun!

At some point if I feel I have to have someone check on them due to a lengthier vacation, I would still keep it simple for the caretaker and just ask them to make sure they have enough feed and freshen/replenish their water. I would think if I gave them a list of other things to feed my peeps, they might not want to look after them depending on the chicken experience of the person you're asking.

 

[lazy gardener]

If I was going to be gone for a few days, I'd perhaps see if I could get my hands on a couple of mammoth zucchini. Or leave them a mountain of weeds/grass clippings, a couple of bales of hay to plow through. Several waterers in case one malfunctions.

 

[Kusanar]

If I was going to be gone for a few days, I'd perhaps see if I could get my hands on a couple of mammoth zucchini. Or leave them a mountain of weeds/grass clippings, a couple of bales of hay to plow through. Several waterers in case one malfunctions.

One word of warning, "a mountain of weeds/grass clippings" if piled up moist, can mold or even start a fire. Not a bad idea, but it would be awful to leave for a weekend in the summer and come back to a burnt down coup...

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm 61 years old, and have never ever seen any outdoor compost get hot enough to start a fire. If any one has actual evidence of this happening, I'd love to see documentation. Now, green hay put away in a barn loft... that's a different situation. weeds will get steamy, but IMO they will never catch on fire if piled outdoors.

 

[Kusanar]

I'm 61 years old, and have never ever seen any outdoor compost get hot enough to start a fire. If any one has actual evidence of this happening, I'd love to see documentation. Now, green hay put away in a barn loft... that's a different situation. weeds will get steamy, but IMO they will never catch on fire if piled outdoors.

When I was a kid, one of my neighbors had a certain place that they piled all of their grass every time that they mowed, in the summer it would smoke and smolder and even 5-6 times a year would have a small flame burning on the top. This was completely outside on the edge of their yard. Now, it was quite a bit, and was added to regularly, and it was at a low place, so the lower layers probably stayed wetter due to any runoff settling in the low areas... But it DID catch on fire, and if something more flammable than wet grass had been near it, it may have actually caused an issue, as it was, it would burn for a day or 2 and go back out, smolder for a few days or weeks and then light back.

 

[hlhutchinson]

Oh dear no worries I will not be putting that much in my run. Thank you everyone for your tips I think I'm going to keep it simple and make sure the feeders are full and water is plenty I'll have my chicken sitter make sure they have food and water if they want they can let them out to free range for a bit or not just depending on what they want to do. Then when we get home I'll spoil them with some treats and free ranging all day

 

[lazy gardener]

When I was a kid, one of my neighbors had a certain place that they piled all of their grass every time that they mowed, in the summer it would smoke and smolder and even 5-6 times a year would have a small flame burning on the top. This was completely outside on the edge of their yard. Now, it was quite a bit, and was added to regularly, and it was at a low place, so the lower layers probably stayed wetter due to any runoff settling in the low areas... But it DID catch on fire, and if something more flammable than wet grass had been near it, it may have actually caused an issue, as it was, it would burn for a day or 2 and go back out, smolder for a few days or weeks and then light back.

Interesting. Thanks.