How can I leave my chickens alone for a week?

Leaving chickens alone for an extended period can be concerning for any chicken owner. Chickens are social creatures that require daily care and attention to stay healthy and safe. However, with the right preparation and precautions, you can leave your flock to their own devices for up to a week.

Make Sure They Have Plenty of Food and Clean Water

The most important thing is ensuring your chickens have access to enough food and clean water while you’re gone. Chickens will eat around 1/4 pound of feed per day, so make sure they have at least 7 pounds of feed per chicken before you leave. Use extra feeders to increase capacity. You’ll also need 3-5 gallons of water per dozen chickens daily. Install multiple drinkers and refill them before leaving. Consider purchasing an automatic poultry waterer that connects to a hose or large reservoir so they have a constant supply.

Provide Adequate Shelter

Your chickens will need shelter from predators, rain, wind, and temperature extremes while you’re gone. Make any necessary repairs or improvements to their coop before leaving. Cover any gaps in the hardware cloth, boards, or roofing that could allow predators entry. Place extra bedding like straw or wood shavings inside to keep the coop floor dry if rain is expected. Prop open any ventilation windows and doors to promote airflow and prevent overheating in hot weather. Consider adding a thermometer inside so you can check the temperature when you return.

Lock Them in the Coop at Night

Chickens naturally return to the coop at dusk to roost. Lock them inside their coop each night to keep them safe from nocturnal predators like raccoons, foxes, and coyotes. Use sturdy metal clips on any exterior doors. Make sure pop doors are closed or covered to prevent exits. Check for any gaps or weaknesses in the coop’s construction that need to be repaired before leaving the chickens locked in for extended periods overnight.

Have a Chicken Sitter Check on Them

Even with plenty of provisions, it’s wise to arrange for someone to check in on your flock occasionally while you’re away. Ask a neighbor, friend, or family member to visit every 2-3 days. They can top off food and water, collect eggs, check for any maintenance issues in the coop, and keep an eye out for potential problems. Provide detailed instructions so your chicken sitter knows what to do. Offer payment for their time and assistance.

Use an Automatic Chicken Coop Door

Investing in an automated coop door to control entry and exit times can make things easier. Automatic doors open and close according to daylight hours to let the chickens out to free range during the day and lock them in safely at night. This takes the place of manually opening and closing pop doors each day. Just make sure to test the door for several days and replace the batteries before your trip.

Manage Your Flock Size

Leaving a massive flock for a week is more difficult than a smaller one. As a general rule, 12-15 chickens is an easily manageable size for one week alone. Reduce your flock numbers by rehoming roosters and older hens if needed. Keeping chickens confined for long periods increases chances of fighting and stress. A smaller flock will have an easier time.

Plan for Medical Emergencies

Hope for the best but plan for the worst when leaving chickens unattended. Unfortunately, illness or injuries can occur anytime. Make sure your chicken sitter knows how to check for common issues like impacted crops, worm overload, egg binding, or broken bones. Keep a first aid kit on hand with supplies to treat minor issues. Have contact information for the nearest poultry vet in case major medical treatment is needed.

Leave Adequate Ventilation

Proper ventilation keeps coops from overheating and prevents buildup of toxic fumes from manure. Open any windows fully and prop up doors while you’re gone. Add box fans on Thermostats to turn on if the interior temperature gets too hot. Ventilation is especially crucial when locking chickens inside for extended stays.

Protect Against Pests

Vermin are problematic when coops sit vacant. Spread diatomaceous earth around the exterior to deter crawling pests. Use bait boxes and traps inside the coop to control rodents. Check for any breaches in walls, flooring, or roofing that could allow pests entry. Fill gaps with steel wool or caulk. A clean coop is also less appealing to intruders.

Install Security Cameras

Security cameras let you monitor your flock remotely for any problems or disturbances. Live footage allows you to check in anytime via smartphone to see how they’re doing. Motion-activated cameras send real-time alerts and record video if an intruder enters the coop area. Position cameras to capture the interior, gates, doors, and yard.

Ask Others to Collect Eggs

Eggs left to accumulate in nest boxes will eventually rot, break, and attract pests. If your trip lasts more than 2-3 days, make arrangements for someone to gather eggs daily. Refrigerate promptly. Don’t forget to provide egg cartons or baskets for safe storage and transport.

Use Scatter Feed

Chickens enjoy natural foraging behaviors. Dumping scratch grains and treats in the floor litter encourages them to scatter and peck. This provides environmental enrichment when confined for extended periods. It also prevents bullying at crowded feed troughs. Replenish scattered rations daily.

Raccoon-Proof Your Coop

These masked bandits are a primary predator of backyard chickens. They can decimate a flock in just one night. Guard against them by installing electric fencing around the exterior, nailing hardware cloth over any openings wider than 1 inch, using metal feed can lids, and weighting lids on trash cans near the coop.

Monitor Water Lines

Check any outdoor water lines for leaks or malfunctions before you leave. Repair issues with nipples, troughs, or hydrants. Insulate metal water lines that could freeze in cold temperatures. Consider shutting off outdoor water and providing water indoors only while you’re away.

Change Out Wet Bedding

Ammonia from manure accumulates quickly in damp bedding. Before leaving, muck out any old litter and lay fresh bedding in the coop. Maintaining dry conditions while you’re gone prevents foot issues and respiratory illness.

Beware of Extreme Temperatures

Chickens can overheat or become hypothermic when coops are shut for extended periods. Monitor forecasts and make arrangements for cooling or warming as needed. Have a plan for power outages shutting down fans or heat lamps.

Keep Litter Clean and Dry

Wet, soiled litter provides a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and fungi. Remove any piles daily. Add more absorbent bedding over slick spots. Shoveling out manure before an extended absence keeps the coop sanitary.

Have an Alternate Water Source

Something as simple as a water tank float sticking can leave chickens without water. Install a secondary waterer connected to a different valve or tank. Having two drinking systems guarantees a backup if one fails.

Consider a Chicken Diaper System

For very long stints confined in the coop, fitting hens with poultry diapers can keep the space clean. The fabric panties catch droppings rather than letting them fall in litter. Just make sure to change and wash diapers daily.

Use Drip Irrigation for Plants

Chickens will destroy any garden or plants if given unsupervised access. Protect your landscaping by installing underground drip irrigation hoses on timers. This waters greenery without chickens digging up the system.

Keep Feed Rodent-Proof

Rodents are problematic when coops sit vacant. Keep feed in galvanized metal cans or bins that have tightly fitted lids to prevent pests from contaminating the food source.

Disconnect Power Sources

Turn off circuit breakers for coop electrical and unplug heat lamps. Remove any batteries from equipment. This prevents fires or electrical hazards when you aren’t able to monitor cords and wiring.

Take Precautions for Predators

Raccoons, bobcats, coyotes, and foxes all threaten free-roaming chickens. Bring birds into a secure run or enclosure any time they’ll be alone. Setup motion-activated lights and sounds to scare intruders.

Have Backups for Equipment

Fridges, heaters, and automatic doors can malfunction at any time. Keep spare parts, batteries, light bulbs, and whisper-quiet generators on hand in case primary systems fail while you’re away.

Inspect for Damage Weekly

Take time each week to walk the coop perimeter and yard, checking for any compromised areas. Hungry predators will quickly exploit weaknesses in fencing, doors, screening, and roofing. Repair damage immediately.

Use Cinder Blocks as Barriers

Stack cinder blocks around coop walls and under vent openings too small for intruders to fit through. This deters digging predators without blocking airflow. It also adds reinforcement against strength testing by predators.

Clear Away Hiding Spots

Predators feel more confident approaching coops with lots of debris, brush, junk piles, or vehicles nearby. Remove any material within 50 feet of the coop to eliminate hiding spots for prowlers to lurk unseen.

Conclusion

Leaving chickens to manage on their own for a week or more takes diligent preparation. Provide ample food and water, secure housing, rodent control, medical treatment options, and regular monitoring by a caretaker. Take every precaution to deter predators during both day and night. Take time before your trip to ensure their daily needs and safety will be met in your absence. With the proper care and precautions, your flock can successfully be left alone for extended periods.

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