We just returned from a short 3-day vacation to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary! While it was nice to sit back and relax on vacation, the amount of planning before we left was a bit stressful. As far as I know there are no boarding facilities for chickens so there is always a feeling of guilt when leaving them behind at home. I ended up writing a 3 page (single spaced!) “instruction manual” for our house and pet sitter. Hopefully I can outline some tips in this post so your next vacation isn’t so stressful.
Hire a Trustworthy House/Pet Sitter
I am very lucky to have a couple co-workers that are very experienced with farm animals and are willing to stay at our house when we are gone. Our 3 dogs also prefer having a pet sitter at the house rather than being dropped off at a boarding kennel. When choosing a sitter make sure it is somebody you trust to care for your animals and can act fast in an emergency situation if one arises. Your sitter could be a close neighbor, friend, or relative. Make sure your sitter knows how many chickens you have so they can do a headcount every night. I always request my sitter sends me an update text every night just so I know everyone is safe and sound for the night.
Invest In (Or build) Automatic Waterers, Feeders, and Coop Doors
If it wasn’t for our dogs needing daily care, we could realistically leave the chickens alone safely for a few days as everything in our coop is automatic. However, I prefer the peace of mind knowing somebody is checking on the flock daily. Automatic equipment also makes the sitter’s job a million times easier. Automatic feeders can be constructed out of plastic storage bins and PVC pipe, however, rodents can chew through plastic. If you are looking for a rodent-proof automatic feeder we recommend Grandpa’s Automatic Chicken Feeder
Automatic waterers are very easy to make yourself out of a 5 gallon bucket or even a 50 gallon drum if you have a giant flock. Check out our other post for DIY instructions:
Lastly, when it comes to automatic coop doors we highly recommend the Omlet Automatic Coop Door. It has a light setting (which is what we use) and a timer setting. I have only seen competitor brands offer a timer setting. The light setting is preferable to us as the daylight is constantly changing with the seasons. As far as a DIY option, I’m not knowledgeable enough in electronics to offer suggestions, but I’m sure it is possible.
Stock Up and Prepare For Emergencies
Always leave your sitter with full feed bins so they won’t run out of pellets and make sure your chicken first aid kit is stocked. Check out our previous post if you need first aid kit ideas:
Always leave contact information for your avian vet in case of a critical emergency that cannot be treated at home.
I always recommend doing a coop and run walk through before you leave to make sure there are no holes or weak points where rodents or predators can enter. The last thing you want is a predator attack while you are gone. In addition to a coop inspection, you should be doing health inspections before you leave to ensure all birds are healthy, and if anyone is showing warning signs of illness make sure your sitter feels comfortable monitoring and caring for them.
And finally, enjoy your vacation! I will admit that I, too, am guilty of overthinking and worrying. As long as you prepare for your departure adequately then there should be no need to stress while on vacation.
