Chicken Sitter

[valreegrl]

What does everyone do when going on vacation?

So far, we have had friends help out. However, we don't want to wear out our welcome.

Has anyone done a chicken sitting swap with another member? Did it work out?

Anyone interested in a chicken sitting swap?

We are outside of Northeast Philadelphia in the suburbs.

 

[ColoradoMike]

We went out of town for 9 days after our chickens had been in their coop for less than a month. I tried to build as secure of a run as possible and simply left the pop door between the coop and run open the entire time we were gone. We had our next door neighbor look in on them once a day and change the water and add feed as needed. The chickens did fine and we had predator (fox I believe) visits two nights and they couldn't dig through our defenses... We had good luck doing it that way...

Honestly, there's no way I would ask someone (even a next door neighbor) to let the chickens out each morning at the crack of dawn and close them back in each evening at dusk - I think that's a lot to ask and figured if we have a predator problem leaving the pop door open, than I'd shore up the run as needed.

 

[fldiver97]

Quote:
Sounds good....I think I could do that with friends/neighbors for a week. Did anyone have problems with chickens pecking on each other? I just wonder if my girls would get cranky being "locked up" They get out daily, even if it is just for a few hours.....

 

[Happy Chooks]

I had a neighbor letting them up and locking them up at night when we are gone. (I was paying her son)

We just bought the automatic door opener and it's the best money we ever spent.

 

[cposz]

We just returned from our first week away since we got the chickens and we'd asked a neighbor to stop by once a day to check their food and water and pick up the eggs.

She loved this little task - and the eggs! She said she came over twice a day because she thought it was so relaxing to sit in the yard and just watch them.

I'm guessing that a seed was planted - maybe soon we won't be the only house with chickens in the neighborhood!

 

[WitksChicks]

We're going away for a couple of days soon, we have to bring one son to VU (near Phily), and a week later another to JHU (Baltimore area). So we will be gone for an overnight or two. Our neighbor actually offered to care for the girls while we are gone. We have a secure run, and will be leaving to pop door open. We have an outside human door to the coop, so he can check the feed and water very easily.

I'm just thinking that our girls will be about 19 weeks old while were on one of the trips, so he may end up getting my very very very first egg. But I guess he deserves it for offering.

We're very lucky to have good neighbors.

new2chooks: Where do you get your automatic door opener from, I'm very interested in getting one soon?

Thanks!

 

[Lady_Cluck]

Call your county extension office and ask if they could recommend or put you in contact with a 4-Her that will take care of your birds!

When I was in 4-H, I would always take care of neighboring farms' animals while the family is on vacation. It gave me good experience and I loved helping out!

 

[Garden Gal]

Quote:
GREAT idea!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
I got it at Foys online. I ordered the inside mount with the light sensor.(bought the 12X15 door also) It runs on batteries, so you don't need to have power to your coop. It's pricey, but well worth it IMO.

My DH even woke up 3 times last night to make sure it didn't open because the moonlight was shining on it.

ETA: here's the link.
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catalog/2100-2107.html

 

[obchix]

We have tons of friends with kids that totally love to come to take care of our chickens! It is like Easter for them daily! The eggs are a treat for most people so they dont mind checking on the producers. I have also paid someone to take care of them for longer trips. I do have a feeder that DH made that lasts around a month and a waterer that lasts quite awhile too! Good luck!