I found out that we will be going on a vacation for a week in August. Woo Hoo! A real vacation- away from home and construction and garden.
Every few years, we get together with all of V's family. Usually we go to the Outer Banks in North Carolina but this year we're doing something different. We're going NORTH! Way North- well, about as far north as some of you dear blog buddies live. We're going to Northern Minnesota (Rainy Lake area and Voyageurs National Park). This summer my MIL turns 80. She was originally from Mn (Baudette, Bemidji and then Cloquet) and wants to show her grandchildren where she grew up. So, we will, hopefully, be renting some cabins on the lake and having a fun time fishing, canoeing and battling mosquitos.
As usual when we travel, we will board the dog at our favorite local kennel. The cats we can have a friend stop in and feed every day or so. But the chickens... the chickens... Who can I trust to make sure my babies are fed and watered and have the eggs collected. I can't imagine that someone can come twice a day or more to let them out, close them up and check on them. Of course, if we ever finish the top of the run and make sure it's really, really predator proof we could probably chance leaving the pop door open overnight- it will be August and most likely hotter than the dickens so that shouldn't be a problem. But the food and water is an issue- water especially if it's really hot. And collecting eggs when it's hot. Hmm... I'll have to give this some thought and see who I can strong-arm.
Yupper, that's the one big hassle when you have animals on your homestead. Lucky are those who can find someone who can come and house sit while taking care of the critters. Do you have any nearby neighbors who could pop over a couple of times a day for the chickens? That seems like it would be ideal. At least you've got a few months to come up with a good arrangement.
ReplyDeleteWhen we went on vacation, we had the same problem. We left the chicken house open but the pen closed. Several weeks before we left, we filled up the feeders to determine how long the food would last. We have the large feeders. They will hold enough feed for three nights and four days. For water, we have five gallon water containers. We added two more five gallon water buckets (3 total) for each pen. Then I had a neighbor come in the afternoon and get the eggs. If you figure out anything better, please post. I am going to have the same problem this summer.
ReplyDeleteThis is the sole reason I can't get chickens. It's hard enough finding someone to water the houseplants once a week. I wish you luck-hopefully you can find someone reliable at work or a neighbor. Thankfully, you have plenty of time to make arrangements.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great vacation plan. Do you have any kids around that might be willing to help? Any of your childrens friends maybe?
ReplyDeleteThe vacations sounds like a lot of fun! I love lakes myself. Would rather live on a lake as to the Ocean. I like the ocean only to visit. I would imagine a few of your readers will come up with a good solution to a portion of your chicken problems. It'll all work out...always does...debbie
ReplyDeleteI'd do what Sherri did with her chickens. Although you may have to toss some of the eggs if there isn't anyone around for more than a day or so in the hot weather, I'd just call it a "loss" and a small cost for being able to take a real vacation!
ReplyDeleteI would think that the offer of fresh eggs for just a littl work twice a day would be an enticement for someone. I hardly ever travel because of my menagerie - I usually rely on my sister to house sit. She's an angel!
ReplyDeleteAre you a member of BackYardChickens.com? There's a Chicken Sitting thread on there, if you're trusting enough! I'll try to find the link to it for you :)
ReplyDeleteFound it!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.backyardchickens.com/t/546740/chickensitting-thread
I could not get home because I got stuck due to freezing roads. Two friends worked it out and one came morning and one night. Offer eggs to them now. I would want someone to get the eggs so the hens would not accidentally break one and become egg eaters. Plus, rotten eggs in August would be horrendous.
ReplyDeleteMama Pea- When I was growing up, we used to raise pigs. I vaguely remember the year Dad sold them all because he wanted to travel. He never looked back.
ReplyDeleteSherri- I've got a 5 gallon waterer in there now and I've got another for outside in warmer weather (I've only got one heated base). The feeder will last for about 4 days. We've just got to get the run more predator proof before I feel comfortable leaving the coop open at night. Of course, it may not be a bad think in the summer to get a little extra airflow.
Sue- when we lived in town, we had a friend who lived across the street who was great at bringing in the mail and watering things. Sadly, he doesn't have a car. But, yes, I've got plenty of time to figure something out.
Linda- I was thinking about some of J17's friends who may be willing to stop in... or maybe even house-sit since most will be graduates at that point. If we had someone house sit, we may even be able to get away with NOT boarding the dog.
Debbie- I don't know, I LOVE. LOVE, LOVE the beach. But I love anything outside so I'm sure I'll have fun on the lakes.
Carolyn Renee- We've got a friend who drives past the house on her way to and from work so I'm thinking that she can at least stop on her way home. They cat-sat for us when we were out of town at a wedding a while ago.
Susan- I'm sure I can come up with someone, or a variety of someones to come check on them for eggs. One co-worker's young daughters were totally thrilled to get to pet a chicken when they came out so we may be able to get her to stop in with her children to take care of them.
Jenna- Thanks for the link. I'm not a member and I'm not sure I'm trusting enough to trust a complete stranger. Who knows, there are a few 'homesteader' bloggers from right here in town who may be wiling if I can't wrangle friends, family or co-workers. I throw family in there but I'm really not sure my brother would be up for the task of feeding chickens!
Practical Parsimony- I had that thought about egg eating as well. I would hate to get that started. Especially since we had our 'alpha' hen die and now the last of the pecking order frequently lays on the floor- definitely the pecking order changed because we never had that trouble before Buffy died. And I'd hate to have those eggs go to waste.
Thanks to all for your wonderful suggestions. I'm just grateful that I've got plenty of time to figure it out. August is still quite a while away.
Judy
Hey Judy, not to be weird but just wanted to remind you that we live in the same city =D I don't have a ton of experience with chickens, but am a quick learner and jump a chance to see if backyard chickens are something I really want!
ReplyDeleteHi Molly- I had thought about you and a couple of other bloggers that I know are in this area. I'm hoping to work something out that will be easy for everyone involved. We'd love to have you out sometime to see what we're up to and you can meet the chickens if you like... no commitment to chicken sit!!
ReplyDeleteJudy
Congrats on the vacation plans, but never having had to leave my chickens before, I know the boat you're in. Find a local homeschooling family who would love to this as an educational experience.
ReplyDeleteGet two or three people lined up and give one the task of making sure someone is there. My friend around the corner could come Thursday morning and Friday evening, so I could not have a night person and a morning person. Also, I told them both if they did not want the eggs just to toss them in the garbage can. Some people are funny about eating fresh eggs, you know, the eggs that come out of chickens and may have landed near poop. They prefer clean white ones from the grocery.Mine are brown.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great vacation! Of course I'm biased LOL. I dread the day we have to deal with the livestock - sitter issue, I worry about that even now and we don't even have any chickens or goats :)
ReplyDelete