Chickens left while neighbours are away

[chocciebickie]

Hello, we dont have chickens and I admit I know nothing about them. But our next door neighbours have gone away leaving the chickens with no one seeing to them (not the first time!). They haven't been put away for the last 2 nights, we're in the countryside so many foxes about and I hope they will be back today at some point and its not a weeks holiday!
Anyway they dont appear to have been fed or have any water available, looks like its been knocked over. They are in the shade thank goodness but do they need water? I'm not sure I can or should try to get into the garden to give them a drink...poor things.

Yes they do need water, mine drink lots!
Could you fill an empty ice cream tub or similar, with water for them?

Are they actually in shut in the hen house or do they have access to outside? If they're in the hen house I would be quite worried about them in this heat. If you can easily get into the garden I would probably go and sort their water out. And if they have no food and the neighbours aren't back tonight I would give them your leftovers, as long as its not chicken.

Ah ok thank you so much littlemefi. I will see if I can try and get into the garden with some water. They are not very nice people though and I've had run ins with them before about the care of their animals...hope they dont come back while I'm in their garden!

No they are in a run with the hen house in the middle, lots of space and in full shade...just hope the fox doesn't get them at night

You could hang a water feeder over the fence low enough for the chickens to reach and pull it up when the neighbours get back!

Good idea but they are against the fence on the other side...I can't reach them they've put the hen run right by the house too...they smell in this heat!

if they are in a a large enclosed run in shade with plenty of food it's usually okay to leave them with house to go in and out of tbh, esp in summer. I don't shut mine in at night in summer *(they are on a concrete block_)

Thank you so much everyone. I have no knowledge of chickens so you've been really helpful. Anyway problem solved, they've just arrived back so at least it was only a weekend away and not longer. Hopefully they'll give them a drink and some food in a minute!

I would consider an anonymous tip off to RSPCA

Oh goodness, chickens should not be left for that long with no one tending to them

They need cleaning out and eggs collecting daily, fresh water every day and plenty of food.

Your neighbours should not be keeping chickens if they think it's acceptable to treat them like that. I'd also tip off the RSPCA or call British Hens Welfare Trust for their view. Poor little chookies.

I've called the rspca before about them (on another matter not the chickens) ....they did nothing...I'm not a fan of the rspca or my neighbours I'm afraid! Its very difficult to know how to deal with them, we dont speak after the fall out last time.....I cant even look at the woman without feeling angry so not a good start really

Oh that's not good. They sound like awful neighbours to be honest.