Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
2349 Posts
Posted - Jan 08 2015 : 12:02:17 PM
You can probably leave them in the coop. Depending on how many you have, decide the amount of water and food. For just 6 hens, you could get by with a 5 gallon waterer and a 5 gallon feeder. If you have a completely closed in coop, make sure there is ventilation for the ammonia fumes to dissipate.
If you're thinking about being gone for more than a few days, then you'll probably need to think about training a friend's teenager how to feed them and let them in and out of the coop.
If you don't have a coop at all and they are completely free range, you can take a chance on leaving them out with water and food. A predator might notice you and the dogs are gone and take the opportunity to attack.
Catherine Sister #76 (2005) One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt.
I had my granddaughter come in every day to let my hens out, collect the eggs, feed them and then come back at dark to close up the coop. I would never leave the hens for more than over night or so as they may decide to partake of the eggs if their water is low or they are hungry. We have been fortunate not to have raccoons and such to bother the chickens. We have a dog that patrols the yard daily (German Shepard) and her scent seems to have discouraged any predators.
Vacations and chickens
Posted - Jan 08 2015 : 11:36:20 AM
