Foot-tapper506 Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 How long should I leave my girls alone - would Friday night to Sunday night be too long as the pop hole would have to be left open although coop door would be closed? I live on the outskirts of a village and am getting a 'Foxwatch' soon. Does anyone else go away weekends and leave their hens? I am hoping someone in the Bletchley area can help by looking after my hens when I go away on hols. I am happy to do the same for someone else??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 Hi from Northamptonshire! I work away during part of each week so cant help with holiday cover sadly as weekends are spent coping with my multitude of chickens friday - Sunday would be ok, leave plenty of food and water obviously, if someone could collect the eggs and just give the chooks the once over it would be great but thats not always possible Your run will need to be fox proof though, dont rely on anything else to keep the chickens safe if you are not aorund A foxwatch is useful as an addition though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foot-tapper506 Posted March 17, 2010 Author Share Posted March 17, 2010 Hi - I am still in Northants but moving to Newton Longville at Easter. My neighbour used to shut them in if I was out overnight, but I guess I will just have to leave them on their own at weekends and hope mr foxy doesn't get at them. Will keep looking for a chicken sitter for hols though. They have been OK so far (5 months) during the day whilst I'm at work with fruit netting over the 10' x 10' run. New garden is much smaller and a funny shape so a run is almost out of the question. They will be confined to the coop a lot more, but they will be able to FR though when I am home your multitude must take up a lot of time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 they certainly do! If you get really stuck give me a shout, they can always come here if you run out of all options Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 I have left mine Friday - Sunday with no ill-effects, the main thing is water - if it's hot, you might want to leave a second source, and make sure they can't tip it over or spill it. An ice-cream carton is ok as a back-up, for example, but put a couple of big stones in so it can't be kicked over by an excited chicken! They may be a bit bored, but they won't come to any harm as long as they have enough to eat and drink and they are safe from predators, you could always chuck a cabbage in to give them something to keep them busy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foot-tapper506 Posted March 18, 2010 Author Share Posted March 18, 2010 Thanks for your replies and offer of help. I usually leave 2 lots of water if I am out overnight in case they fill it with mud or tip over. Putting a stone in is a good idea, thanks. Hung a cabbage once but they ignored it -choosy madams, they prefer it shredded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busybird Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 I have left my girlies untended several times for 2 or 3 nights when we go camping. I have 2 glugs and grubs that I top up the day I leave - there is still plenty left when we return. If I am away for longer then I ask someone to check on them in exchange for the eggs the girlies will have laid. I have a few people in the village that I can ask - their children love to come and feed the hens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igobarefoot Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Hi there I live in Newport Pagnell so not too far away from you! I would struggle to have them at my gaff as don't have much space, but I'd be more than happy to pop over and check on them each day if that helps? xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Friday to Sunday is fine just leave plenty of water and food. I wouldn't leave them for any longer but I have left mine for that long and they were fine. Don't leave them if you have newly integrated chickens though as you always need to keep an eye on them when they are new. Hazel, Ranger, Audi, Porsche, Cracker, RIP Chestnut Noodle x1 x1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Is it a secure run? it sounds like you are saying they will be able to wonder freely as they do during the day and you just hope a fox doesn't visit at night? Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 As long as it is fox proof and they have lots of food and water they will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foot-tapper506 Posted March 24, 2010 Author Share Posted March 24, 2010 They are confined during the day when I am at work in a small run, but locked in their coop at night. They only wander the garden when I am in it as well. I am hoping to build (with my partner's help!) a WIR so they can have more freedom every day. Thanks to igobarefoot for offer of help - that would be great if you could pop in every couple of days when I am on hols. I am quite happy to do the same for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igobarefoot Posted March 24, 2010 Share Posted March 24, 2010 Hi Foot-tapper No probs at all keeping an eye on them every couple of days - PM me your details, when, where etc and lets try to meet up beforehand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foot-tapper506 Posted March 25, 2010 Author Share Posted March 25, 2010 Will do igobarefoot, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 25, 2010 Share Posted March 25, 2010 I built my own WIR you would be more than welcome to come and take a look if it would help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foot-tapper506 Posted March 25, 2010 Author Share Posted March 25, 2010 Hi Redwing, that would be great. Can you PM me with your exact location and we can arrange a time. It would have to be early eve I'm afraid as I have quite a journey home after work. Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...