Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[TheSkyIsFalling]

I'm a new owner of an eglu cube, which I love! So far I've been closing the coop door at dark and opening it back up in the morning. I'm wondering though, if any of you leave the door open. I'm thinking that in the heat of summer, the hens might appreciate the extra air. But the real reason for my question is for planning my vacation in July. It's doubtful that anyone will be laying yet, and getting someone to my house twice a day to open and close the door isn't likely. Do you think the Cube run is safe enough for a week of unsupervised chicken life? i'm sure i'll get someone over a few times to check food and water and such, but there won't be anyone there at night to watch for predators. I was thinking that i'll surround the run with hardware mesh. will that be enough? should I stake the skirt too? or bury some netting around it?

[Duncan08]

A lot of people on the forum leave their coops open with the Omlet run.

Quite a few have girls that prefer to perch outside rather than go in the coop.

I don't but thats just my preference, and I am fortunate that my dad will put them to bed at night for me if I can't.

 

You will need to find someone to give them a visit though each day, definitely every other day. They are messy things and will need their water changing and food topping up. Some days our girls need their food topping up every day, others you can get away with about 3 days, but we do need to change the water everyday.

 

They will need vets details, just in case of emergency, too.

 

Make sure it is someone you can trust. There are also places that offer holiday breaks to chickens too if that might work out easier, might allow you to worry a little less.

[TheSkyIsFalling]

Yes, we'll be gone 6 days and I expect I'll get people to stop over 3 or 4 times. I find that if i fill the Grub feeder, it's days before that food runs out. But yes, the water will obviously need refreshing.

[Duncan08]

In a moment of haste, I have volunteered to have the schools chucks, if they get them during the holidays.

 

Which has opened up lots of what ifs, going to have to consider who will pay any vet bills, cull or cure policies etc in the event of a problem.

Its worth giving a thought to.

[TheSkyIsFalling]

I don't get what you mean. i would never expect someone else to pay my vet bills

[Duncan08]

Sorry, I was thinking more about the school than your circumstances.

I don't think they have really thought about the consequences of keeping chickens at the school. Including vet bills, and how far they are prepared to go if a chicken is ill.

If I am going to care for them I will need to follow their policy which may well be different to my own.

Thinking out loud really.

Sorry to confuse you.

[TheSkyIsFalling]

ah. no worries.

 

of course, you could always just do what they do in every tv sitcom and go get a lookalike chicken if something happens...

[Mrs Potts]

Hi.

Just to say I always trundle up and shut the coop door. I have a Classic attached to an Omlet WIR, which has the anti-fox skirt on it so this is a good deterrent, but just feel safer shutting them in.

As to being away, yes you will need someone to come and check and fill up food/water etc. Personally, I'd offer to pay one hen friendly person to do it; that way, you get to give them some training if they don't have experience of hens and it is a bit more formal/you are sure they will turn up. This has worked well with some conscientious teenage children but I do that for max of two or three days, and send them off to a hen sitting service for longer than that. That would definitely give you peace of mind and after paying for a cube, the cost is usually reasonable!

Cubes and hens are a considerable financial/emotional investment, so well done for beginning to think about it now.

[Margaret]

Where do you live?

I always send mine to The Scarey Farmers Wife

Not her real name, thats in Borough Green in kent.

She charges £5 per hen per week. and that includes all feed as well.

Great value for peace of mind, Gill is great and has her own hen business so knows what she is doing.

Maybe you could check out your area for hen sitters.

[TheSkyIsFalling]

I'm in the US. Near Albany, NY. I don't know of any hen sitters, but i suppose it's worth a look.

[Margaret]

Oops sorry cant help then.