Single hen

[Robbo1962]

Morning Everyone!

I have a cube with extension and an another extenion coming to give the girls (6) more room when they cant be free range as we are away for the night. Do you thing that 3 metres is ok? We are going away at Chrsitmas for a week and cant find anyone to shut them in and let out every day but they can call by and feed and water every other day. Is a week too long for 6 ladies in a 3 metre run on grass??

Really beating myself up about it as they have a 30metre run normally.

Just want them to be safe while we are away and cant risk leaving them totally freerange at night for 6 nights.

Reasurance needed!!

Thanks

Sara

[FORENSICA]

Hi,

 

do not worry at all, I am sure they will be just fine.

 

When I went for holiday, hubby was at home but only evenings and so girls were at their run ( 3 chooks in standard eglu run) for 8 days and did not complain as far as I know.

 

You can throw them some cabages in, so they have something to do for a few days, but really the space seems completely sufficient for them. They will be fine, honestly

[new chick]

Sorry can't reassure you on this.

 

I would not leave mine for 6 days without someone feeding, changing water letting in and out.

 

If you do not have friends or neighbours who can help, try a pet sitting service. I rang a dog sitter and she has agreed to come twice a day (to open up, feed, give clean water, & return shut coop up, and take food in). Cost £9 per day.

 

She is now expanding her services to Chicken keeping.

 

Lives in Cheshire, so sorry she will not be able to help you here

 

NC

[Bondinho]

Sorry can't reassure you on this.

 

I would not leave mine for 6 days without someone feeding, changing water letting in and out.

 

If you do not have friends or neighbours who can help, try a pet sitting service. I rang a dog sitter and she has agreed to come twice a day (to open up, feed, give clean water, & return shut coop up, and take food in). Cost £9 per day.

 

She is now expanding her services to Chicken keeping.

 

Lives in Cheshire, so sorry she will not be able to help you here

 

NC

 

She said they have got someone who can come by and change water/top up feed but just not let them in and out every day.

 

They will be fine for 6 days like this in the 3m run so don't worry at all.

[chickenanne]

I agree - they will be fine in the run for a week. You're unlikely to ahve any grass left at the end of that time, particularly in the winter, though!

[Mollystar]

My girls live like that apart from Saturday & Sunday(foxes), obviously I feed, talk & water everyday but the cube does'nt get shut up. they get moved to a new patch each weekend & are making light work of de-grassing the field -

 

http://img363.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img030121gs7.jpg

[Mrs Slats]

Our girls are currently spending the whole day in their cube run, 4 hens with one extension.

 

they are fine as will yours be. You can always put some branches or shelves in for climbing hentertainment and a better view of the garden... also gives them some private space to get away from the others if they fancy some peace and quiet.

[RubyReckless]

Sara, I'm sure they'll be just fine. We've been away for a week before now with someone popping in every 2 days to freshen the water and fill up the food, and collect eggs of course.

 

Now we don't have to - a local teen pops in morning and night to let them in and out for £2 a day. (his garden meets ours, so he just comes through the hedge). we were away for 10 days in the summer and my chook-sitter was very happy with his £20 for 5 minutes morning and night. I also gave him permission to sell any eggs, which he did OK with too. A good deal for everyone!

[Steve.]

That's luxury ... I have 8 in a 3 meter run. Though only since last Friday. They make good use of the cube + I do try and keep them busy with mash, lots of woodchip to explore, and goodies hidden here and there.

 

Long term we'd like to get a huge walk-in run + two more chooks. But that'll need to wait till next summer.

[Egg Lou]

I'm sure they will be fine

 

I left mine recently for 7 days in a 3 m run (4 hens ) with a neighbour doing feed, water & Eggs every day. They are used to free ranging a lot but were perfectly fine.. try not to worry!

[Hen Watch]

I've been away on four 1 week holidays since the chooks arrived. My 4 were perfectly OK in their eglu run (+converter) with the eglu door open all the time.

 

Chicken sitter emptied the poo tray just once (although I said this wasn't absolutely necessary). Checked on water and feed daily. Collected eggs.

 

I have 2 glugs and grubs. My chicken sitter filled both grubs to the top and they lasted 4 days before needing top up as she had put so much in. But if you have a superglug, I think that holds more water than a standard glug anyway. But if you wanted to put your mind at rest you could splash out on a spare set.

 

If someone is coming in every other day I'm sure they will be fine. Your grass in the run however, won't be.

[Egg Lou]

I've been away on four 1 week holidays since the chooks arrived. My 4 were perfectly OK in their eglu run (+converter) with the eglu door open all the time.

 

Chicken sitter emptied the poo tray just once (although I said this wasn't absolutely necessary). Checked on water and feed daily. Collected eggs.

 

I have 2 glugs and grubs. My chicken sitter filled both grubs to the top and they lasted 4 days before needing top up as she had put so much in. But if you have a superglug, I think that holds more water than a standard glug anyway. But if you wanted to put your mind at rest you could splash out on a spare set.

 

If someone is coming in every other day I'm sure they will be fine. Your grass in the run however, won't be.

 

forgot to say I also did this and put extra grubs and glugs in run..well worth grabbing yourself an extra set!

[mrs chook]

Whereabouts are you in North Yorkks as I am here too, if it was too far for daily, I could at least pop over a couple of times to check if you like