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

[IdyllwildAcres]

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.
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.[/QUOTE]


Good point on treats, I had not thought of that.

I am leaning toward your approach on free ranging or even taking it out of her hands and programming the door to open late afternoon to give them at least a couple hours they will let themselves in and the door will close according to the amount of light outside, it closes about 7-8 minutes after they go to bed. My worry about that is spoiling them while I am gone and ending up with bossy chickens squaking at the door at 3:00 everyday!

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

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)

Yes, and same conversation with vet about end of life decisions.

Thanks
Gary

 

[aart]

I am leaning toward your approach on free ranging or even taking it out of her hands and programming the door to open late afternoon to give them at least a couple hours they will let themselves in and the door will close according to the amount of light outside, it closes about 7-8 minutes after they go to bed. My worry about that is spoiling them while I am gone and ending up with bossy chickens squaking at the door at 3:00 everyday!

I'd lean towards letting the sitters control the door for range time, have them do it randomly so as not to set any habits you wouldn't want to have to break.

 

[PirateGirl]

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)

This is somewhat important. I'm pretty sure my vet knows my animals well enough and would take care of them in event of emergency and my absence, but I did add a name on record with my vet when I went to New Zealand for a month myself as someone who was authorized to make decisions as to the care of my animals while I was away. It was not expressly discussed, but this did include the decision to euthanize if it came to that. If my dog was run over by a car or something while I was gone, she did not need to suffer until I returned. One time I had a dog break a leg while I was out of town. It was challenging, but we made it work. Depending on your vet and their policies, you may be able to leave a credit card number on file to be used in event of emergency. In terms of your chickens, if your sitter could not cull a bird, or treat a sick or injured bird, perhaps you can find someone nearby with chicken experience and leave their phone number in event of emergency.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

I'd lean towards letting the sitters control the door for range time, have them do it randomly so as not to set any habits you wouldn't want to have to break.

You are probably right, I have worked hard, lol, keeping them on a non schedule schedule thats only in my head.

I have never programmed that door to open on its own but I love that it closes up for me if I leave them out.

Gary

 

[lcwmt]

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)

Absolutely! And leave written permission with the sitter to seek emergency care if needed. Our Vet knows our care philosophy for the dogs and cat, (does not tend chickens) but on weekends sometimes the techs are "new" so it's a good idea for everyone to have written info.
It's also a good idea to have a back up sitter just in case the 2 leggeds have an emergency.

 

[Lil Lou]

My son has a camera set up to view his poultry area, including the pond. He can view it on his phone. When I have any questions about anything while he is away he or his wife can log on to view for themselves. It makes it much easier.

 

[Welshies]

It's also a good idea to have a back up sitter just in case the 2 leggeds have an emergency.

x2.

 

[lcwmt]

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.
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.

Good point on treats, I had not thought of that.

I am leaning toward your approach on free ranging or even taking it out of her hands and programming the door to open late afternoon to give them at least a couple hours they will let themselves in and the door will close according to the amount of light outside, it closes about 7-8 minutes after they go to bed. My worry about that is spoiling them while I am gone and ending up with bossy chickens squaking at the door at 3:00 everyday![/QUOTE]

good plan IMO. The spoiling thing is real. e.g. Our special needs dog is allowed to sit on the sitter's lap. It takes a good month after we get home for her to "remember" the real rules <LOL>
I think that if my chickens got spoiled my life would absolutely change <G>.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

good plan IMO. The spoiling thing is real. e.g. Our special needs dog is allowed to sit on the sitter's lap. It takes a good month after we get home for her to "remember" the real rules <LOL>
I think that if my chickens got spoiled my life would absolutely change <G>.[/QUOTE]

Ya, I am not going to automate, have the sitter let them out randomly and skip days so they do not get all uppity on me.

Gary