debratugwell Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 I'm going on holiday for a week at the end of June and my friend is looking after the girls in my absence. This means they will not be coming out of the run while I am away. They clearly love to be out - will it do them any harm mentally/physically at being cooped up for a week? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 No i wouldnt have thought so but it may be good to keep them in for the odd day here and there before you go away so they can get used to it Have a great holiday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debratugwell Posted May 30, 2007 Author Share Posted May 30, 2007 good idea - thanks for that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 They'll be fine. Enjoy your hols. Get your chicken sitter to give the broccoli or similar to peck at to keep them amused. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 Leave them a few extra nice things to eat but remember that chickens LOVE to try and make you feel guilty about them being in the run when you're not looking they just get on with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 I suffer from chicken guilt too ...badly We got a touring caravan last year (before chooks) and went away every weekend. We've been away once so far this year ! Due to go away in August for 4 nights and September for just over a week, dont know how I will cope, but I have asked my sister to come over in the afternoons for half an hour to let them out. Will ask a neighbour to keep an eye too. We bought the run converter to add space to the run and to ease my guilt...but those little faces looking at me by the run door does it to me every time Your girls will be fine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlass Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 lol I too am already feeling guilty about a two week break I have in October... I only have and Eglu and standard run but think I will invest in the extension run to ease my conscience Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 We bought the converter, which adds a little more run space....but you could get the converter and the extension to make the run huge! Im planning to do this at some-point. I didnt order it all in one go cos hubby would have noticed and moaned so doing it gradually eases the pressure on his wallet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
braden01 Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 We've just been away for 5 days and my neighbour was looking after the chickens. She said she'd try and give them some time out in the garden. Turns out that she came across with 2 other neighbours and about 10 children - they all sat in our garden for an hour and the kids loved it! The chickens are used to children as my daughters don't leave them alone for 2 minutes. My neighbour is a bit nervous of picking them up but I'd left her a tin of sweetcorn and our chucks can't get in their run fast enough if that's on offer. Maybe you could see if your friend wouldn't mind spending half an hour reading the paper in your garden to let the chucks have a little run around? If not, they will survive just fine I'm sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 They will be fine. I went away for 4 days and got back Saturday. My sister, who lives next door, was chicken sitting. But she's heavily pregnant at the moment and can't bring herself to do the poo cleaning or let them out. So her other half changed the poo tray, but they didn't go out of the run (plus 1 converter attached) at all. They survived, but my grass didn't...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 how fab is it having a sister next door, i would love mine next door to me !...dont know whether hubby would though...we'd spend more time yapping rather than doing anything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Yep....yapping is high on the agenda. I popped round to her for coffee this morning, then she had to pop into me this afternoon to return something. Hubbie thinks we are barmy. My sister moved next door (and that is RIGHT next door) just over a year ago. Very handy for emergency babysitting but that works both ways and her son is 18months and baby due soon, so I have to remember how to do it all over again....... Hopefully next time I go away she will have had baby and won't be so chicken squeemish.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
