how are they still alive ?!

[roxsam]

We went out of town this weekend and had to leave our 3week old chickens by themselves. My DH asked a friend to check on them and to make sure they had food and fresh water. Well we got home late last night and the first thing I did was go to check on the chicks...they had absolutely NO food, my bag of bird seed for the wild birdies was open and sitting out (I'm guessing they got fed this?!!) And instead of cleaning out their water and putting fresh stuff in he just filled up a water pitcher halfway and stuck it in there!!! I'm sure they could have drowned or gotten stuck in the pitcher! Poor chickies! When I fed them they had all jumped on the food tray before I even had set it down and were eating it so fast! I am so thankful they all seem to be ok though. Even though I'm thankful he was willing to watch our chicks next time I think we'll ask someone else lol.

I guess I had valid reason to worry about them all weekend

 

[Nicole01]

Wow, I'd be mortified with the way he treated your chicks. That was completely uncalled for! Never in my life would I trust him with anything. Talk about selfish and laziness! I'm glad to hear your chicks are okay. I'd defiantly be calling someone else next time. I hope you didn't pay him.

 

[BarefootMom]

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Did this friend know ANYTHING about the chickens?? Or did you even show him where the food was or how to feed and water them? A lot of people have no idea about these things- my parents were both raised around chickens but I would never just say he look in after the chickens will ya? Especially since I have 4 different types of feed (layer pellets, flock raiser, rabbit pellets, and chick crumble) in the feed room and it is hard to tell it all apart. Alot of people think of chickens as bird and I could see where they would think bird seed. Also depending on the type of waterer you had- those things can be tricky! It took my husband a few minutes to figure out the new ones from TSC! lol

And anyway 3 week olds can hold their own.

 

[ailurophile23]

Glad to hear the chickies are all okay. While the care he gave them was way less than optimal, I have to wonder if he has any animal experience at all. While some many of us take it for granted that our animals have to be cared for a certain way, many folks who have no animal experience just don't understand. When we have someone come take care of our critter crew, we provide written instructions and pictures of the animals, emergency contact information, and we have the caretaker come over for a dry run before we leave town to make sure everything is covered. While many may think this is excessive, our caretakers always thank us and if a problem arises, they know what to do. Plus our animals get top quality care and I don't have to worry. Good luck finding a better caretaker for the future.

 

[silkiechicken]

Glad they made it! But on a 2-3 day weekend, at 3 weeks old, if inside the house, just fill up food and water and don't worry about them.

Next time you'll probably want to measure out food, label everything and show the helper how to do it. I know people who cannot water plants.... it's all about experience and if you don't have it, you have to be shown it.

 

[Noymira]

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I agree completely!

 

[BarefootMom]

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are you talking about my husband? lol Sure he is a great gardener and can water the garden just fine. Takes care of the animals no problems. One weekend my parents left for Branson and I had the flu. Chris was suppossed to water all of Mom's flowers...omg- they all looked dead when they returned! He just took a dipper and gave each hanging basket a dipper full and sprinkled some on all of the beds... Needless to day he had a flower watering lesson after they returned!

 

[roxsam]

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They are actually kept outside, in Florida where the temps have been well into the 90's with very high humidity. It is HOT. And they were completely out of water except what was in the pitcher...and there's no way they could have reached the water in there without falling in head first, it was too low. But I guess you're right...next time I will have to leave written instructions. I just didn't ask for much..just that they get checked on maybe twice to fill up food and water, that's it!

He does have experience with animals, he has his own pets and his brother has chickens that he has dealt with(that is who I thought Dh was going to ask to watch them!). They both live in our neighborhood within a short walking distance. He had been over to see the chicks before and the food was clearly visible in the porch, while the bird seed was not clearly visible. And no, he didn't get paid, lol.

I was just posting on here because I needed to vent since Dh didn't understand why I was upset with their care. I know how to leave proper instructions on my animals' care, I usually leave way too-detailed instructions if I ever have to leave my dog and cats. Like I said I just didn't ask for much...fill up the food and water, that's it. Didn't think it would be hard to screw up. And of course if unsure he could always call or text us!

 

[Nigellas]

I wonder if he didn't know how to open the waterer to add water? Maybe he was thinking of wild birds using a bird bath when he added the pitcher?
Very strange...

 

[Judy]

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This, or set the pitcher down, intending to fill the waterer, and just forgot or got distracted.

The water is what is surprising to me -- I'd have thought they would dash for it rather than food. Mine get wild bird seed sometimes, as a treat, and they eat it fine -- it would have been an acceptable food for a weekend, I would think. But the water -- shudder. Guess they are hardier than we think.