Chicken Boarding

[SusanD]

I talked to a worker at our extension service today on an unrelated issue. When I mentioned that my parents and I were planning to board our chickens for a week, she strongly discouraged me from doing so due to concerns about disease spread and also stressing the chickens. The place we are taking them to is, I believe, a reputable business that practices the best biosecurity they can. So, while I understand it's not completely safe, I think it's as safe as it can be.

I am concerned about the potential effect on their behavior, though, after listening to her talk (due to unfamiliar surroundings and being around unfamiliar birds). Especially since my birds have not started laying yet, and I am still working on trying to get them to roost instead of flopping in their (theoretical) nest boxes. I would love to hear from others who have boarded their chickens out if their chickens came back stressed or with other behavior issues.

 

[TalkALittle]

I wouldn't board them. I don't even board my dogs (and my dogs compete in dog sports with me, go to facilities where hundreds of other dogs are, and stay in hotels with me so it's not like boarding would stress them terribly). It's strictly because of disease and continuity of care. Plus, I can get 5 sitter visits a day for the price of boarding my dogs.

Do you have pet sitters near you? The pet sitter I use for my dogs was more than willing to let my chickens out, check food and water, and lock the coop at night as part of her scheduled visits once I showed her what was involved. My dogs got a little less time playing fetch but that was the only downside. I told the sitter she could keep any eggs she collected. I came home to happy dogs and healthy chickens and no break in laying.

 

[SusanD]

Thanks for your reply. I suppose that I was a little afraid to ask one of my friends to do it or to try to hire a pettsitter (that hasn't done chickens before). I know they cleaning up after them can be disgusting from the point of view of people who are used to chickens, and I was afraid of asking the wrong person. I will see if I can find a pet sitter that has done chickens before, and if so, will run it by my parents. That may be useful anyhow, as I'm not sure what would happen if I were to go away and leave them with my parents.

 

[donrae]

It's always good to have a pet sitter lined up for potential emergencies. Most animals do best when left in their home instead of being moved. In your area, you should have an active 4-H and/or FFA groups, those are potential gold mines for responsible, livestock friendly young folks who always need money.

 

[aart]

Agrees that 'boarding' is a bad idea for several reasons, mostly disease transmission....
......and anyone that agrees to take chickens in as a 'boarding' scenario should be avoided at all costs.

Having someone on call who has, or has had, experience with chickens is a must IMO if you have chickens.
They will know what care is needed, how to spot a potential problem and more importantly what to do about it.

Keeping livestock animals is a huge responsibility that requires 'being there'...often at the expense of other more fun things to do with your time.

Chuckles and Wonders...do your parents know your going to go away....and leave the chickens with them?