Leaving chickens for a month, what to tell the house sitter?

[IdyllwildAcres]

I am going to be gone for the month of February, taking the family on the vacation of a lifetime! The kids will be on independent study and we are spending the month in New Zealand!

So on to the chickens...

I am worried about frozen water, trying to get the coop hard-wired for electricity before we leave so I can deploy some water warming devices, a cookie tin heater under the large fount and a heating pad over the brite tap nipples attached to the 10 gallon igloo. I have 3 water sources and two PVC feeders so even if my hired help falls down on the job they would not run out of water, and if I add another feeder or two they would have enough for the month. Not that I expect the hired help to fail, just in case...

So what about the eggs? I decided against letting the house sitter just give them away while I am gone. I would rather not be blamed if someone I do not know decides my eggs are the cause of some illness or whatnot. Should I have the helper wash them and put in cartons in fridge? Or should I have her put them in cartons unwashed? I was thinking unwashed so the bloom is intact and maybe they will stay fresher? I do plan on boiling a bunch when I get back and maybe freezing some I am not sure yet. There will be 10-12 dozen eggs to deal with. Even at a month old they would be fresher than store bought I imagine... @aart ?

We live in the mountains of Southern California and always need an evacuation plan in case of fire. The instructions in that regard will be top off the food and water for the chickens, grab the dog and hope for the best. That is my plan even if I am home, If we had to evacuate we would not take the chickens, sorry...

I am also conflicted about free yard time, my coop/run (linked to the left) is plenty big, has a dirt floor under the deep litter I could rake it out for dust bathing. I know they would be happy if let out here and there into their fenced area but I know they would be safer locked up. They have a auto door which I only use manually but it will close itself up after roost time if I let them out and do not go back out to lock up.

The instruction on illness or injury is also different for dog vs chicken. Dog goes to vet, chickens will not... I hope this instruction is not needed but again it would be the same if I was home, but at least if I was home I would be able to cull a sick chicken...

Anything I am not thinking through? Hopefully those with more experiance will chime in..

Thanks in advance and don't beat me up for my decisions regarding vet and fire evacuation, well you can but it will not change anything accept maybe your opinion of me!

Gary

 

[aart]

How often will you chicken sitter be visiting?
Do they have any chicken experience?
One of the best things to do is to have them go thru your daily chores and write it all down as they go.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

How often will you chicken sitter be visiting?
Do they have any chicken experience?
One of the best things to do is to have them go thru your daily chores and write it all down as they go.

She will be housesitting, so there everyday so my spoiled dog does not have to go to the kennel, the kennel is expensive on its own so for a few dollars more I have a house sitter. Very experienced with dogs and horses, her and her wife used to own the feed store in town so they sold chicks but never raised them. I will go over the chores and have her take notes, my setup is pretty tight though, really all she needs to do is keep the water fresh in the founts and top off food weekly and collect eggs daily.

Gary

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

@aart any thoughts on how to handle the eggs? washed or unwashed? fridge or not? Its actually pretty cold, 50's in my basement maybe put them in there to avoid drying out in fridge?

Thanks

G

 

[Welshies]

I go away often and here is what I do-
-Write everything down, but also go over it with them in person
-check in every so often, whatever suits you
-If I am away for a weekend I leave my birds locked up, but if away for long than 5 days they will be let out.
-Make sure they know where to get water and more food
-Make sure my coop is well clean before I leave for everyone's benefit
-I let my caretaker have all the eggs, to him or herself

 

[lcwmt]

We have a house sitter as well - also because one of our dogs does not kennel well and all the critters are happier staying home. When we are leaving the sitter comes out the night before. We talk about what is the same in the routine and what has changed or shifted.
(meds, diet, behaviors etc. Our younger dog has some issues due to early and serious abuse, her coping mechanisms shift over time)

We do our best to keep it simple as possible, review all written instructions, including if/when and who to take to the Vet etc.
She has plenty of time to ask questions and make sure we've covered everything. It also seems easier for the dogs if she is here while we are. The cat hasn't expressed an opinion <G>.

As for the chickens, she has cared for them since they first started being allowed "yard time". It sounds to me like your feed and watering routine will be easy enough for someone to check on: top off feed and water as needed. **Be sure to make your policy on "treats and leftovers" clear... Our sitter tends to over treat but it makes her happy and makes the dogs feel loved. In the short run that doesn't matter much but would for the chickens over a month's time I think.

Our chickens have the option of free ranging, they are reliable about going to roost. All she has to do is close them in at dusk (the coop and run are attached and secure), open the run up when she's ready in the morning and *only* if she's comfortable.
We are quite clear about the free ranging risk factors and that she's not responsible for predators. Our dogs do a good job of keeping other critters away from the house. She has to be comfortable letting the chickens out.

I'd have the sitter use whatever eggs she wants, carton and refrigerate the rest, unwashed.
As for evacuation in emergency, we all have to make those decisions, the important thing is you've thought about it and are clear in your own mind.

 

[Welshies]

Yes leave a vet's number.
Also, make sure she knows how many chickens you have and counts at night

 

[aart]

@aart any thoughts on how to handle the eggs? washed or unwashed? fridge or not? Its actually pretty cold, 50's in my basement maybe put them in there to avoid drying out in fridge?

Thanks

G

Hmm not sure.
When I was chicken sitting the eggs were my 'pay' and I sold any extras.
I guess the best bet would be to refrigerate them unwashed,any really poopy ones being tossed or washed and used soon.
Everyone has different comfort levels with how to handle eggs.

Sounds like you've got good sitters.
@lcwmt has given great advice.
The only thing about chickens is noticing if something's wrong before it becomes dire(check that pullets butt ) and what to do about it. But if they have good animal and common sense that should be good.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Hmm not sure.
When I was chicken sitting the eggs were my 'pay' and I sold any extras.
I guess the best bet would be to refrigerate them unwashed,any really poopy ones being tossed or washed and used soon.
Everyone has different comfort levels with how to handle eggs.

Sounds like you've got good sitters.
@lcwmt has given great advice.
The only thing about chickens is noticing if something's wrong before it becomes dire(check that pullets butt ) and what to do about it. But if they have good animal and common sense that should be good.

I have no problem with the sitter consuming the eggs and originally my idea was to tell her she could give them away if she wanted (or sell them I would not have cared) but then I started worrying about liability and such. I will give this more thought maybe talk to her about washing eggs that leave the house.

Refrigerate unwashed, thats what I was leaning towards thanks.

I do have good sitters, we have known them for years and they have boarded our dogs at their house (before they downsized) and come over to feed and water our dogs from time to time over the years. They take it seriously, always talk about vet care and unexpected end of life decisions for our pets. They will have instructions that if Max the Rat Terrier or chicken death happened that they would not call us. We do not need to know until we return it would not change anything other than our vacation memories.

Arrt, its really too bad your tech does not include a smart phone we could facetime my first butt check!

Thanks I always value your input

Gary

 

[sbhkma]

I would also contact your vet and let them know someone else is tending your animals and if needed, will contact them and have your permission to do so (at least for the dog)