Keeping backyard chickens has become a popular trend among urban and rural dwellers alike and for good reasons! These feathered friends provide fresh eggs, insect control, and endless entertainment with their quirky personalities. However, like any other pets, backyard chickens require a lot of time-consuming care and attention–even when their owners go on vacation.
Fortunately, with the advancements in technology, there are many ways to automate the basic chicken-keeping chores that need to be done daily. Automatic chicken coop doors, automated feeders and waterers, and proper protective measures are all valuable tools for chicken keepers, providing convenience and peace of mind while ensuring the well-being of their feathered flock.
In this article, we will explore the various ways to care for your backyard chickens while you go on vacation. We will cover everything from pre-trip preparations to post-trip care, so you can enjoy your vacation without worrying about your beloved chickens.
Pre-Trip Preparations: Setting Up Your Coop for Success
Before you embark on your vacation, it’s essential to make sure your chicken coop is set up for success. Here are some important pre-trip preparations to consider:
● Stock up on feed and water: Make sure you have enough feed and water to last your chickens throughout your absence. Consider using a larger feeder and waterer to accommodate the increased demand and reduce the frequency of refilling. You may also want to consider adding an extra water source as a backup. Installing systems that utilize rainwater is also a good option.
● Clean the coop: A clean coop is a healthy coop. Clean out the coop thoroughly before you leave. Remove any accumulated droppings, replace dirty bedding, and sanitize the nesting boxes. Ensure feeders and waterers are clean and free of debris. A clean coop will help prevent the spread of disease and parasites and ensure your chickens have a safe and healthy environment while you’re away.
● Install an automatic chicken coop door: One of the best investments to make for your backyard chickens when you go on vacation is an automatic chicken coop door. Run-Chicken’s automatic chicken coop doors are designed to open and close at specific times, providing your chickens with access to the outdoors during the day and protecting them from predators at night. Run-Chicken’s automatic chicken coop doors are programmable, reliable, and easy to install, making them a convenient and beneficial addition to any chicken coop.
● Secure the coop: Predators can pose a significant threat to backyard chickens, especially when their owners are away. Make sure your coop is predator-proof by reinforcing any windows and checking and securing ventilation openings with sturdy hardware cloth or wire mesh. Check for any gaps or holes that could allow predators to gain access and fix them before you leave. An automatic chicken coop door by Run-Chicken can add an extra layer of protection to your coop’s entrance. These doors are made of durable aluminum, which prevents entry from predators, and they close automatically at night via a light sensor or timer to ensure your flock’s safety overnight while you’re gone.
● Provide proper shelter and ventilation: Chickens need proper shelter and ventilation to stay healthy, especially during extreme weather conditions. Before leaving on vacation, you’ll want to ensure that your coop provides ample shelter from rain, snow, and wind, and has adequate ventilation to allow fresh air to circulate without creating drafts. This will help your chickens stay comfortable and healthy while you’re away.
● Have someone come to collect your eggs: You may need to have a friend or neighbor come and collect your eggs daily while you’re away. If you choose not to collect the eggs, you will likely need to discard them when you return to be safe. Remember that your hens will still lay eggs daily, whether you are present or not.
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The Benefits of Automatic Chicken Coop Doors While on Vacation
Automatic chicken coop doors offer several advantages for both chicken owners and their feathered friends when going on vacation. Here are some of the benefits of using an automatic chicken coop door from Run-Chicken:
Convenience: Run-Chicken’s automatic chicken coop doors are incredibly convenient for chicken keepers, especially when they are away. Once programmed, these doors will automatically open and close at specific times, ensuring that your chickens have access to the outdoors during the day and are safely locked inside the coop at night. This eliminates the need for manual opening and closing of the coop door, saving you time and effort and allowing you to enjoy your vacation without worrying about your chickens’ safety.
Security: Predators can be a significant threat to backyard chickens, especially at night when they are most vulnerable. Automatic chicken coop doors are designed to protect your chickens from predators by automatically closing at dusk and opening at dawn, ensuring that your chickens are safe inside the coop during the night. This provides an extra layer of security for your chickens, giving you peace of mind while you are away. It also eliminates the risk of forgetting to close the coop door at night, which can lead to potential predator attacks. Run-Chicken’s automatic chicken coop doors are made of sturdy, durable aluminum that will deter any predator.
Flexibility: Run-Chicken’s automatic chicken coop doors offer flexibility in terms of programming. You can set the door to open and close at specific times based on your chickens’ routine, or you can opt to operate it on a light sensor function, using the daylight hours in your area. This allows your chickens to have access to the outdoors during the day and return to the safety of the coop at night, mimicking their natural behavior. These automatic chicken coop doors also have additional features such as adjustable closing times, manual override, and even built-in timers, giving you more control and flexibility in managing your chickens’ access to the outdoors.
Safety & Protection: Automatic chicken coop doors are designed with safety features to prevent injuries to your chickens. Run-Chicken automatic chicken coop doors have sensors that detect any obstacles in the doorway and will automatically reverse the closing process if there is any obstruction. This prevents your chickens from getting caught in the door and ensures their safety. Additionally, Run-Chicken’s automatic chicken coop doors are made of durable aluminum and are weatherproof, protecting your chickens from the elements and ensuring that the door functions reliably even in harsh weather conditions.
Healthier chickens: Access to the outdoors is essential for the health and well-being of your chickens. They need sunlight, fresh air, and space to engage in natural behaviors such as foraging, dust bathing, and stretching their wings. Automatic chicken coop doors provide your chickens with regular access to the outdoors, even when you are not there to open the coop door manually. This helps to keep your chickens active, happy, and healthy, reducing stress and boredom that can lead to health issues such as feather picking and egg-laying problems. Healthier chickens are also more resistant to diseases and parasites, resulting in fewer vet bills and less hassle for you as a chicken owner.
Energy-efficient: Run-Chicken’s automatic chicken coop doors are designed to be energy-efficient, using batteries to operate. This means that you can keep your chickens safe and have the convenience of an automatic door without significantly increasing your energy bills. You also won’t have to worry about any power outage issues while you’re away.
Easy installation: Automatic chicken coop doors from Run-Chicken are designed to be easy to install, even for those with limited DIY skills. They come with detailed instructions and all the necessary hardware for installation. Installation may require minimal modifications to your existing coop, such as drilling holes for mounting, but overall, the installation process is straightforward. Once the door is installed, programming it is easy and straightforward, with user-friendly options to customize the settings based on your preferences.
Run-Chicken’s automatic chicken coop doors are a game-changer for backyard chicken keepers who want to ensure the safety and well-being of their chickens when they are away on vacation. With their convenience, security, flexibility, safety, and health benefits, automatic chicken coop doors can provide a clear conscience to chicken owners and a better quality of life for their feathered friends. The ability to automate the opening and closing of the coop door, providing regular access to the outdoors, and preventing predator attacks all contribute to happier and healthier chickens. Moreover, the energy-efficient and easy installation features make these doors a practical and sustainable option for backyard chicken keepers who are looking to go on vacation.
Post-Trip Care: Checking on Your Chickens
Even with the convenience of an automatic chicken coop door, it’s still important to check on your chickens periodically, if possible, while you are on vacation. Once you return, here are some post-trip care tips to ensure your chickens are doing well:
Check the feed and water: Make sure your chickens have the proper amount of food and water upon your return. You may need to clean feeders and waterers thoroughly before refilling them, depending on how long you were gone. If you have installed larger feeders and waterers, check to ensure the food and water are clean and debris-free.
Inspect the coop: Check the coop for any signs of damage, such as broken windows, doors, or ventilation openings. Also, check for any signs of predator activity, such as claw marks or diggings around the coop. If you notice any damage or signs of predators, take the proper precautions to secure your coop.
Conclusion
Chickens are independent creatures that can take care of themselves for the most part. Although they rely on us for food, water, and to open to coop door, don’t let these chores stop you from taking a much-needed vacation. There are many things that can help you automate these tasks so that you won’t have to worry about your chickens while you’re away. So, the next time you plan a vacation, consider investing in an automatic chicken coop door from Run-Chicken to keep your chickens safe, healthy, and happy while you enjoy your time away. Your chickens will thank you for it, and you’ll be able to relax knowing that your chickens are happy and safe!
We would love to hear about your experience of taking care of your chickens while you’re on vacation. Join a Facebook community of Chicken&Egg Lovers and share your thoughts and photos.
