WARNING: DO NOT SHUT THE KITCHEN DOOR OR YOU WILL LOCK YOURSELF OUT.
The chickens need to have food and water checked twice while we're gone. Ideally that would be Tuesday and Friday, but whatever works for you guys... It's best if you can check them out while it's still light out.
The side of the coop is held on with two wing nuts. When I take it off, I usually just lean it up against the frame of the coop and the chickies are discouraged from coming out. (If they do come out - which would be unusual, try to snatch them up from above, rather than from the side. Either way you do it, you might have some chasing ahead of you... They will come back at dusk, worst case scenario.)
The waterer is on the left, held on by two carabiners (to keep it level), and the feeder is on the right. The feeder has a removable top that needs to stay on to prevent the chickens from standing on their food. More food is in the right metal trashcan on the porch. (There is scratch in the trashcan on the left if you'd like to give them some treats. You can just toss it in through the top of the fence. For a super special treat, which would be great, there are bags of hamburger and hotdog rolls in a big black trashbag in the kitchen. You can open up the door on the run or toss them into the run through the coop. A whole bag at once is fine.)
The waterer can get filled from the kitchen sink (a little gross, I know). The top of the waterer twists off and has a not-so-fancy closure (shown in the second picture). I usually hold the waterer down with my foot to put the top back on. But! Whatever you do, don't put your foot 90˚ counterclockwise to the closure thing or your foot will get splashed. (It's usually best to close it up outside.) The waterer is a bit rusty, so it's good if you can rinse out the container prior to filling it back up.Eggs usually end up in the right corner of the coop closest to the gate (although the idiot Chairman can't get with the game, and seems to drop them almost anywhere). Luckily our chickens aren't broody and there is rarely one actually sitting on the eggs. If there is, just shoo her away -- none of them will peck you, so no worries there. Feel free to keep any eggs you find, or you can put them in a carton and stick them in the fridge.
Other things:
- There are plants in the middle room that probably won't need to get watered but it would be nice if you would peek at them.
- There are seedlings in the basement that will need to get watered. They are on a shelf toward the back of the basement on the right.
- There are transplants in the backyard (on top of the chicken run) that may or may not need to get watered.
- The cats' food is in the basement on the shelf above their bowls (when you walk down the stairs and turn right it will be right in front of you).
- There is water for the cats all over the house: next to the couch (by the kitchen), in the bathroom, and in the basement. I doubt you'll need to fill it up, but I'm sure they'd like it if you freshened it. Then again, none of us are picky.
- If you have time to pet a Pete it would be wonderful. Pet a Garden Cat at your own risk.
- I have held the mail, but there might be a package or two on the porch.
Thanks a million times over for everything!
