pay for chicken care

[classless chickens]

Hi Chicken Lovers.
I am needing info. We will be going away or one week and need to get someone to take care of the chickens. How much do you pay someone for this? I am afraid I will not get anyone. I thought I had this covered but the person who volunteered has plans the same week. I am thinking of asking the neighbor to look in. They have chickens too, but I dont talk to them much. Our kids talk.
Please help me, so I can relax during vacation.
I don't know what to do at this point my mind is racing thinking of all the things I could do if I didnt find anyone.

 

[robbdebbie]

I found a professional pet sitter that will come how many times a day I need her to. I have 9 cats, 1 dog, and the chicks. She will charge $20 for the first trip per day, $15 for the next trip, $10 for the next. I am only going to have her come out once a day if I get my automatic door opener working. If you call a vet or a groomer you can ask them for some references.

 

[Imp]

When I'm out of town I have a neighbor watch my chickens and cats. I pay him about $10 per hour. In the winter it is about 1 hour a day, so I pay him $10 a day. In the summer I ask him to water the yard so I pay for 2 hours a day ($20). So far everytime I come home to everything alive and fine so I usaully give him a $20-$40 tip, depending how long I've been gone.
It seems a little steep, but it's well worth it. And he has chickens as well.
He's so responsible that the first time I had a drip in the kitchen sink, he had plumber(friend) come over to make sure he hadn't broken anything.

Imp- has mostly great neighbors

 

[joebryant]

We pay $25 per day.

 

[HennysMom]

Quote:
I guess it depends on how many chickens you have and what you usually do and are asking your sitter to do. If you're asking them to do just the basics (change water once a day, get eggs, put feed out) - that takes probably 30 minutes if washing all containers, etc (for me it does, and I have 6 birds) but keeping them in the enclosure. If you want to let them free range a bit while you're gone, then that would be extra to have a sitter stay with them and herd while they free range. Changing bedding, raking their pen out - thats extra too.

We're going to the beach next week and DH's mom is coming out to watch our girls and the cat, but she's also bringing her best friend, so they're staying here at the house - a "free vacation" of sorts for them

as they live over 60 miles away. We still pay her though, for the 5 days she'll be tending the birds and the cat - we'll pay her $10.00 a day just to feed, water and get eggs.

On another note: If your neighbor has chickens, please make sure they do not wear thier "chicken shoes" or what not into your chicken coop - biosecurity is a huge thing and you dont want your chickens (or theirs) to get sick or cross contaminate. Have an extra pair of shoes of your own out and ask your sitter to wear those, along with throw away disposable gloves to do any and all tending, gathering, etc. You also want to make sure whoever is watching your birds REMOVES the shoes BEFORE coming into your house...

If you cant get your neighbor to do it - look up Pet Sitters in the local phone book - and give them a call - also if you find someone to tend to them, ask them if they will be in contact with any other chickens or birds while sitting for you that week. Biosecurity again....

 

[big greg barker]

We have a friend stay here at our house while we go away..........

 

[BorderKelpie]

Could you contact the local high school and ask if they could recommend an FFA or 4H student to help you? Maybe a local church with kids looking for community service points. (I don't mean community service as a punishment but as volunteering type stuff.)
Best wishes and have a great trip!

 

[classless chickens]

Ok. I got it covered. Whew. I was up half the night stressing. The boy across the street is gonna look after them. I think $10 a day sounds fair? Anyone think other wise?

 

[cmom]

If everything is good when you get back maybe give him a tip. I had someone look after my birds for a weekend and they left the door open and the birds were out roaming around. I think I'm lucky no predator got them.

 

[classless chickens]

Quote:
Oh Most Definately. I have already planned it. I figured $70 for the week and another $20 or $30 for tip if everything is ok.
I am so relieved to find someone, I was really worried.