Farm Animals - Home Alone?

[jgelt]

Unless soemthing goes horribly wrong, we expect to be "in the country" in a little over a month. We are heading to SW Missouri.

We'd like to start with chickens for egg layers and we'll probably start with a sheep. If the sheep works out we'll likely get several sheep in a few years.

I'm a reading fool at the moment, but one issue rarely addresed is leaving your animals.

If predators aren't a problem, how long can you coop up your egg layers and a head out of town for?

With sheep I intend to cycle from weened lambs to slaughter and have a gap over the fall and winter before I go in again for more. If predators aren't a problem, how long can you leave them in good grass, with water and shelter before you risk something stupid happening?

Right now I'm in a job where going anywhere is out of the question. It'd be nice if I could pop up to see my parents over a long weekend without tons of probelms.

At this point we know nobody where we are going. Our neighbor, who pretyy much surrounds us, is a fairly large scale dairy farmer. I'm not sure how much quid pro quo we'll be able to work on with him until we've been there a few years.

[gardenfay]

Hi;
Sorry, I cant answer your question about sheep; but will answer about hens. I don't have hens right now; but kept a small flock (no more than 30) for years and also as a kid.
I think the major issues if you have no predator problems are : the coop not getting too hot, adequate clean water, hens could start to eat eggs because of them not getting gathered. Those are the main ones that come to mind right off the bat. Ive found that even if you know someone who will watch the flock for you, the best bet on that for me has been to pay some young teenage kid who seems to be responsible. I have had adults, and yes this couple does drink quite a bit of whiskey; but still could not believe this. In the hot summer time, they emptied out all the water pans and filled everything with chicken food. I had even told them how important the water was and that if they ran out of food it was no big deal(just gone for 2 days). Anyway, I'm just saying that even well-meaning adults sometimes do pretty ignorant things. A young teenager that you are paying is a different story; you can write out instructions and no one thinks you are being too picky. But if you can't get anyone; you have to think about issues like the egg-eating. Usually, in my experience, a big-footed hen breaks an egg when there are alot in a nest and then somebodys bound to try it and sometimes its pretty hard to get it stopped. hope it works out good.

[Deberosa]

With cows it will be more of a challenge but I don't think a day or two is going to be a problem. I have lots of birds. The eggs might be an issue, but in the winter there are fewer eggs too. I don't think I could be gone a week safely but a night or two shouldn't be a problem if as is mentioned they don't get too hot where they are and have lots and lots of water. A good amount of food too but water is important.

[jgelt]

Thanks, good info.

Is egg eating bad for the chickens or just the eggs?

I'm not think of any long term abandonment, just a few short jaunts from time to time.

[Deberosa]

Egg eating is a habit that chickens get into an don't stop easily if at all. So if you ever want eggs you don't want them to start. Also, if one sees one of them eat eggs then they all join in and get the bad habit. I had that problem when I gave mine a bit too free a range and they discovered they liked eggs. Had to start over!

Thanks, good info.

Is egg eating bad for the chickens or just the eggs? *

I'm not think of any long term abandonment, just a few short jaunts from time to time.

[Suzy]

I would hesitate to leave ANY of my animals alone for even one day without someone who was reputable checking in on them. And since I really don't have anyone I trust very much, I pretty much don't go anywhere overnight any more!

If I were to be hospitalized or something like that, my grown children would check and feed for me...

My chickens are free range during the day and shut up in their houses at night....They would get completely upset if I were not here to let them out and shut them up....They are used to a routine and any change in that routine upsets their egg laying production!

My goats are VERY VOCAL and if I am late feeding in the morning or late checking on them at night, they will let you KNOW you are missed! Also, goats can and will go looking for you if you don't keep your routine! That may mean climbing or jumping over a fence! Mine have never done that because I'm basically always here but I have no doubt they'd try!

My Angora rabbits are checked at least twice each day. You never know if someone is going to knock their water bottle off their cage or have some sort of health or other problem...

Then there's the dogs, ducks, cats, etc. etc. etc.!

My son and his wife live here on the farm now (in my late mama's house) so I would trust them (especially here because she worked a long time as a vet tech) but I just wouldn't trust much of anybody else with my animals!

[bee_pipes]

An excellent question and a real practical concern. Right now all we have to worry about are dogs and chickens. We are fortunate to have a friend in the area that can stop by. We have a covered yard off of the checken house, so that covers predators. Egg eating is a real concern. On occasion I have found eggs with chipped holes in them, but fortunately the chickens have not broken through the inner membrane and acquired a taste for them. It is rare, but a concern to be watched for.

Do you have a relative - cousin, sibling, nephew or other you could have over to watch the place while you're gone? Another possibility is an acquaintence at church or other organization you may join when you move to the area. You may have problems with a quid-pro-quo (sp?) with your neighbor, but maybe they have a younger child, relative or acquaintence that you could hire?

Having livestock does interfere with travel, but the good news is I don't miss the traveling that much. I was always a wanderer and liked going to new places, but I now prefer staying home. There are times - weddings, funerals and other family occasions, where you do have to go - when you move you will find other people in the same situation and be able to reach an arrangement.

Congratulations on the move to Missouri. What are your intentions with the sheep, other than meat? Fiber?

Regards,
Pat

[neiltina]

My husband invented an automatic chicken door closer out of an old bike chainring and a rotisserie motor. When attached to a dawn/dusk timer, it closes the door at night, so that when I'm gone, my neighbor only has to come in the morning to let the chickens out, and feed and water them. I'd worry about leaving them without someone to be sure they had water. Plus, with the automatic door closer, if we are out for the evening, I don't have to worry about something getting into the coop with the chickens. This happened to me several times before the door closer. It is more than horrible to come home late at night to find all of your chickens dead. (It was a bobcat last time. He climbed a 6 foot fence to get them). Also, do give a call to your neighbor, this is how good relations start sometimes, offering to exchange help. Good luck. Tina