ckicken care while away...

July 31, 2004

Does anyone out there raise chickens?

We have 6 chickens from eggs that we incubated/hatched this spring.

We are going away at the end ofAugust for 5 days and are not sure

what to do. My husband built a great coop, with a 6' high chicken

wire fence all around the 'chicken yard'. At night he goes out and

closes them in the coop, then lets them out in the morning, to insure

their safety from evening predators. But, we're not sure whay to do

while we are away. My sister takes the dog and guinea pig, she loves

animals, but its too much to ask to have someone stop by twice a day

and let the chicks in and out. Should we just leave the door open and

hope for the best?

Any advice wouldbe helpful.

Jean

July 31, 2004

as we learned the hard way, chickens must be confined from predators or

gaurded by a full time watch dog if they are to be free. while you're gone,

just leave them in their coop. you can have the person who is watching your

other animals come to gather the eggs and feed them. i'm assuming they're

not 100% pastured, but even if they are some grains will be fine for a week

(even have them toss in some greens if you can). and if you can't get

organic grain, just don't eat their eggs that week not ideal, but if you

want to live with animals and still go on vacation, you have to compromise.

that or pay someone well who can take care of them. personally, with stray

dogs, racoons, possums and other dangers i would NOT let them out of their

coop while you're gone.

(theoverly cautious chicken mom who's had several chickens lost)

BTW, chicken wire i was told is the last thing you want to use for chickens

(although i use it for SOME of mine). it keeps the birds in but doesn't

keep animals out. hopefully you've devised a sturdy enclosure that animals

cant dig under or rip open.