Chicken sitter

[michickenwrangler]

We're going to a wedding for 3 days up north and our neighbor's 15 yr old son is going to chicken sit for us.

We're filling the water and feed before we go and cleaning the run and the coop. He's mainly coming over twice a day to do a headcount, toss some scratch and check on things.

What would be an appropriate amount to pay him? He lives close enough that he can walk over but he'll probably bring his 4 wheeler. We're leaving Fri. morning and coming back Sunday afternoon. I figured $10 but I will take suggestions.

Thanks,

(I have to do chicken chores in winter gloves so as not to ruin my manicure and nails. Darn wedding. I haven't worn nail polish in 18 years!)

 

[bethandjoeync]

i would say $5 a day, then when you come back..as long as everything is ok, and all things were tended to, then maybe a nice tip as an extra thank you. this is very nice of him to do this for you..and taking a head count is always important. lol

 

[mwhidden]

Hi, I live in rural Maine and I pay my (20 year old) chicken sitter about $5.00 a visit. Have fun at the wedding!

 

[Rebekah]

I would say $5-$10 a day would be appropriate.

I hired a teenage pet sitter for when we go to Mexico for 7 days. He has to feed the cats and the turtle once a day, scoop the cat litter every other day [about 3 times], give the chickens [6] fresh water each day, and make sure they have enough food. I'm paying him $100 for the week.

 

[froggie71]

We recently went away for 5 days and paid our teenage neighbor $10/day. She came over 3 times a day though we told her twice would be fine. She was taking care of our 13 ducks, 13 chickens and 4 guineas. She was very serious about her job and sent us pics from cell phone when she thought there was problems with a ducks wing and a ducks leg. She probably took better care of all the birds then my own kids.

 

[michickenwrangler]

I figured $10 for two whole days.

We're back. My kid brother is married and I found out that his new m-in-law has silkies. The wedding was out on Lake Michigan in 40 degrees and rain. I was the only bridesmaid from northern Michigan so (after laying on a heavy Yooper accent), I told the others that "'dis ain't so bad. Once it gets above t'irty degrees, that's the weather what we wear shorts in, eh!"

All hens accounted for and there was some corn on the ground that the chickens hadn't pecked yet so we must have just missed him. The deer even stayed out of the garden.

 

[briteday]

Ooh, yah, don't ya knoooow!

 

[michickenwrangler]

Ya, da other bridesmaids all told me dat I was crazy, eh.

The other gals from DC, California and Texas were all grumbling under their breath during the ceremony, "This state sucks! How can you live here?!" I could tell them in all honesty that it has been in the 40s for lows all summer and it has rarely gotten above 80. One of the moms from CA knew I was in to gardening and asked, "What can you grow here?" Without batting an eye, I replied, "Potatoes and cabbage."

Heck, the chickens fared better than these southwestern daisies.

My grandfather spent most of the reception sitting out on the balcony and smoking cigars in a flannel shirt, complaining because the "fully-stocked bar" didn't have Blatz beer.

I love this state!

 

[cmom]

I had someone look after my birds for a weekend and a near disaster. They left my nest box door opened and the chicken were everywhere. I'm lucky they weren't a predators dinner. I probably should have paid him. He was an elderly person not a kid. I should have gotten a kid probably. Here are some pictures of my nest boxes.