What to do with your chickens when you go off for the Holidays?

Chickens and Holidays

 

Anne Perdeaux 26th April 2014 Keeping Chickens FAQ

https://poultrykeeper.com/keeping-chickens-faq/chickens-and-holidays/

Anne asks the question we should have all asked before buying our chickens: What do you do with chickens when you go on holiday?

It’s not the chickens that need a holiday, but their hard-pressed owners. The only problem is – who will look after the chickens?

Of course this should have been given some consideration before buying chickens in the first place, but life isn’t always so well organised and sometimes circumstances change. In any case, it’s important to make sure your chickens are properly cared for when you are away from home, even if it’s only for a couple of nights.

Automatic Equipment

It’s sometimes suggested that chickens can be left for a few days with automatic pop-hole doors, feeders and drinkers. Although these appliances are useful, daily (preferably twice daily) checks are still essential – for the following reasons:

• If the equipment fails, the chickens could be shut in their house all day, left vulnerable at night, or be deprived of food and water.
• If hens are laying, eggs should be collected at least once a day to avoid encouraging broodiness or egg-eating – a difficult habit to break.
• A chicken could become ill or injured. Chickens are good at hiding illness, and can look perfectly healthy one day only to be at death’s door the next. Sick birds are often picked on by the flock, sometimes with fatal results. Apart from the unnecessary suffering this would cause, the owner could return to a very grisly sight.
  An automatic pop-hole opener which can be used to automate the locking up process.
  
  

  Leaving chickens unattended could actually result in a charge of neglect – especially if something does go wrong.
  Organising a Chicken-Sitter
  Chickens dislike change so it’s better if you are able to find a responsible person to take care of them in their own surroundings. If you have a large flock this is also likely to be the only viable option. Here are some ideas:
  (a) Ask a neighbour
  If you are lucky enough to have a friendly and responsible neighbour who just happens to love chickens, holidays should be no problem! Make sure the neighbour knows what to do and is prepared to give your chickens the appropriate care. Don’t forget to be properly grateful and to bring back a thoughtful gift from your travels.
  (b) Make a reciprocal arrangement
  With so many people keeping chickens now, it may be possible to find a like-minded person nearby. You might even be able to organise an entire circle of chicken-sitters in your neighbourhood. You could post a message on our poultry forum – poultrykeeperforum.com to see if there is someone near you who might be prepared for you to help one-another out.
  (c) Pay someone to help out
  A local youngster (or oldster!) may be happy to earn a few pounds looking after your flock when you are away. Unless you know the person well, it’s a good idea to ask for references as they will have access to your property when it is vacant.
  A local youngster may be willing to help out. Photo courtesy of D. Fielding
  (d) Employ a professional pet-sitter
  Pet-sitters will either call at your home to attend to your animals, or even live-in if required (this can be useful if you don’t like leaving your house unoccupied). Look for adverts in magazines, the vet’s surgery, animal feed stores or on-line (try www.ukpetsitters.com). Remember to check references thoroughly, and to confirm that your pet-sitter has some experience of caring for chickens.