how much to pay a chicken sitter?

[McChooky]

My brother was devastated after hearing the State Police found a poodle dead down the street.The owner refused to give the dog away because he paid 1800 for it so he tied it up and went on vacation without telling anyone.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

My brother was devastated after hearing the State Police found a poodle dead down the street.The owner refused to give the dog away because he paid 1800 for it so he tied it up and went on vacation without telling anyone.

Ugh. That is just so sad and just inconceivable to me. If a family member isn't available to watch my dogs (staying over at my house), they go to a boarder.
Nothing surprises me anymore though. I've read a few news sories where a parent left their children unattended to go on vacation and a child died because of it.

 

[McChooky]

Ugh. That is just so sad and just inconceivable to me. If a family member isn't available to watch my dogs (staying over at my house), they go to a boarder.
Nothing surprises me anymore though. I've read a few news sories where a parent left their children unattended to go on vacation and a child died because of it.

My brother tried to convince this guy to give the dog away after it became obvious he wasn't going to take care of it

 

[Lrnadoon]

I am paying my sitter $20 a visit

 

[jeepone]

We pay $25 a day for someone that has to drive to get to our house. Feeders only need to be filled once a week, but she will top off their "favorite" feeders. She cleans and refills the waterers every day. She comes in the evenings so she can make sure everyone made it in before the auto door closes. (Plus to keep from getting attacked by our roo. He is very protective and sees her as a stranger and therefore a threat.)
She also gets eggs laid while she is here. There are more than she and her husband can eat so she gives them to family and friends.

 

[Seaslug]

I want to thank all of you who have mentioned the value of having your animals well taken care of while your are on vacation. As someone who has provided in-home pet care for years, it is important to let those who take care of your animals know -- and show it by offering compensation.

 

[Bawkbok]

I must be overly generous or I have no sense of compensation in the chicken world. $50 a week sounds super cheap. But then, I'm an overly generous tipper when dining out. I guess the question is --- what would YOU want to be paid for your time, effort and commitment without feeling taken for granted? Good animal care is hard to find. Pay for the peace of mind you have while away.

 

[tlcmurphy]

It depends on what needs to be done. I have only 3 birds and the chicken sitter comes only every 2-3 days to refill food and water, 30 minutes max per visit. I pay $20 per visit, that works out to ~$50 per week. I don’t know about you, but I don’t make $40/hour.

 

[SamLockwood]

I'm going on vacation for 2 weeks and am so sad to have to be away from my 18 week old pullets! My literal next door neighbor is going to watch them, but I'm not sure what to pay her. There are only 6 of them. Obviously they aren't laying yet or I'd offer her any eggs she gathers.

• She won't have to fill the feeders at all since they will easily last 2 weeks.
• She doesn't need to let them in or out of anywhere.
• She could probably get by with cleaning the dropping board and filling the waterer every other or even third day.
• And of course she doesn't have any travel time to get here.
• I'd love for her to still take a peek every day just to make sure they haven't done anything crazy.

When she watched my cat in the past she came over twice every day to feed her and clean the litter box. (Kitty is gone now so she won't be doing the cat in addition to the chickens.) I paid $100 for two weeks for the cat care. It seems like the chicken care will be less than that so I'm not sure if I should still do $100 or if less would be reasonable.

If you've paid this person before and they've proven reliable pay them the same rate you did before with the cats. They're a known quantity and you already have a relationship. I've paid more for less.