Hen holidays

[Tweetypie]

I am off on my holiday this Saturday for a week and as I don't know anyone locally, except one neighbour, I scoured the web and found hen boarding just 10 miles away. The woman has her own hens and also breeds them. Her house is in the middle of a wood, so quite idyllic. She has a large pen and an omelet coop for them.

I hope the girls will be ok. I feel nervous leaving them, but rather they are with someone experienced, than a neighbour who doesn't have a clue and probably wouldn't want the job anyway.

 

[chrismahon]

Of the two options I think you have chosen the best Tweetypie. We have moved all our chickens three times now without problems but it is important to remember that chickens don't like changes of any type as they stress them which can bring on illness. Of course moving their coop and run isn't an option for you but to reduce the impact of the change, even though it is temporary, I advise you take with them their feeder and drinker and enough of their usual feed to last their stay. These may seem simple things to you but not to a chicken- it will give them some familiarity to their new surroundings and hopefully minimise the stress.

 

[rick]

They will be fine! It will be a little stressful although it sounds like they will have a good sized run to explore. In a dark but roomy enough box they just sit down on a short car journey. I use a small dog crate with a cover loosely over - its not completely dark. Obviously, keep the car ride as smooth as possible, even if it takes a little longer. Some pro-biotics when they get back and an eye out for anything like lice - no reflection on the boarding just in a new environment they do seem to pick up some 'souvenirs' of their adventure which can get out of hand before you notice.
Where are you off to?

 

[Margaid]

I agree with Chris. Changing their feeder/drinker from red to green, or a different style can stop them eating/drinking because it's "strange".

 

[Tweetypie]

Oooh great advice, I would never have thought about the different feeders, so will ensure I get them sorted in the morning. OH is taking them late morning now as the woman needs to go out for an hour at 1.30 and we need to set off to avoid traffic. I've put a duvet on the floor of the hard top pickup, to ensure when they are in the dog crate it won't be too rough a ride. I wish I was taking them, but alas I am at work until 1pm.
I'll fill you all in when I get back about how they have coped and will definitely look out for any changes in behaviour and fleas etc.
I'm off to Abu Dhabi for a week. I love it there.