What to do with chickens when we're on holiday

[BumgrapesofWrath]

We've got a few holidays coming up and I'm concerned over what we;re going to do with the chickens.

DM has said she can come round in the evenings to lock the chickens up, but can't be round in the mornings to let them out because of work commitments. We don't have any neighbours who can let them out in the morning unfortunately (not on great terms with the next-door neighbours, and don't know anyone else.)

We were considering a "chuxaway", but will involve a bit of work to our set-up. That will only let the chickens into the run, which I don't think is big enough for them to run around in for a week, seems cruel (as they have the run of the garden in the daytime.) We were considering just leaving the run door open, but worried about foxes, and at least if the chuxaway fails, the fox would still have the run door/fence to get through.

Has anyone got any suggestions?

Leave the coop door open so access to run. This is what my friends always do (chicken sitting for them at the moment).

If you can borrow a rabbit run to extend do so

Have you looked for anyone local that does animal care who could come round twice a day? Failing that there is the expensive option of a house sitter, which is what we do for our animals, but it does bump up the cost of any time away quite considerably.

Or could you set them up temporarily at your mums?

There are quite a few options.

• house sitter
• asking around/notice in the local post office etc. You can either pay in eggs or cash
• leave the chooks in the small run only, as long as it's fox proof
• build a larger run which is fox proof
• send them on a chicken holiday - some people will take the chickens like a kennels would take a dog, and sometimes friends or family can't come to yours regularly but would be happy to have the chickens at theirs.

My friend sends her on a chicken holiday. She says it is great, run by an old eccentric lady who adores chickens and doesn't charge much at all. Less stress! I can get the name if you happen to be in Hampshire?

Neighbours are normally the best bet unless you can yake them to a poultry hotel - There are lots listed here www.chicken-house.co.uk/green-valley-poultry-supplies/chicken-sitters-in-the-uk/

Automatic drinkers and auto door openers all help and mean you only need a neighbour once a day.

A decent size run is good as this time of year foxes are around a lot.