Talking someone out of getting chickens

[tlcmurphy]

We got a Pets hotel over here that take in chickens.
A$5 per chicken per day
A$10 per chicken per day - public/school holiday
Owner provide food.
A cement floor enclosure, big enough for 1 or 2 small dogs.
I am not keen on it.

Edit to add that the $10 fee due to public/school holiday

You can BOARD chickens in Australia??! I’ve never heard of such a thing!

I’m lucky that my friend gave me the name of the young lady that chicken sits for her. She LOVES chickens, and my only worry is if my friend and I vacation on the same week. Then I’m out of luck…

 

[SkyAJK]

You can BOARD chickens in Australia??! I’ve never heard of such a thing!

I’m lucky that my friend gave me the name of the young lady that chicken sits for her. She LOVES chickens, and my only worry is if my friend and I vacation on the same week. Then I’m out of luck…

Yes, there is a pet hotel about 30 minutes drive from my home accept chickens with those fee.

You are lucky that have someone loves chickens and do that.

I would chicken sits myself. I can put on an adv and might find someone, but it is not the same like someone you know well.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I give mine mice that I snap trap when I get a fresh one hoping that they get used to the idea that these are food. They eat the ones I give and it's a big party for them but I haven't yet seen any signs of them eating one they caught for themselves.

Do you ever be concerned that possibly one you are feeding them might have some Decon in them or other type of poison? I think about that when my ducks get ahold of a shrew or mouse in the pen. Just wondering.

 

[debid]

Do you ever be concerned that possibly one you are feeding them might have some Decon in them or other type of poison? I think about that when my ducks get ahold of a shrew or mouse in the pen. Just wondering.

I don't use poisons and the odds are very high the rodents I am catching were born within the borders of our farm. Our closest neighbor is about a mile away and he has 4 legged pets, I don't believe he uses poisons either. But, you are correct, I don't recommend doing this for city dwellers.

 

[BDutch]

What is imho?

In my honest opinion.
Meaning this is too much information. Most people can’t coop with such an overload.

Those are list are my experience. The time, the expense and the trouble it bring, but still...I have chickens, want more chickens...talk about addiction. But other might find it too much.

Whenever my mom call me from 3pm forward, she can not get me on the phone because my afternoon chicken work starts at 3pm, cleaning up, new bedding, let them all out to play, treats,..etc...I get inside the house no earlier than before 7pm...talk about hard work.

I spend about 20 minutes doing chicken things on a daily basis. Once a week on average probably 1-2 hours. And of courses a number of times each year maybe 4 hours or even more when there are things to repair, the coops need a extra zgood clean or new ‘paint’ with diatomaceous earth.
I don’t count chicken TV hours as work.

 

[BDutch]

Going away for a few days/a few weeks is no problem for us. We have neighbors on two sides who are good chickensitters. We care for their animals too if they go away.

If the chickens stay in the coops/run its no more than 10 minutes work each day to give food and water. And 30 minutes a week to top up the bedding to cover the poop.
I love the auto pop door, water bottle and the feed container to make it easy to keep chickens. If there are any questions they send a WhatsApp/Signal message.

 

[mango-o]

Is this person mainly interested in chickens as livestock, or pets?
Knowing why they want to get into chicken tending in the first place might help you come up with something to put them off the whole idea.
Knowing what exactly that bad track record is could also help. Do they get bored easily? Doing insufficient research? Neglect? All the above?

It seems more like an aesthetic/fantasy interest than livestock or pet care. They like the idea of chickens looking cute in the yard (thats their favorite animal it seems since they collect alot of trinkets), but when the reality involves daily care and responsibility, things tend to fall apart. They previously had baby chicks, some died, and others escaped and ended up stuck on mouse glue traps. My sister and I had to step in, rescue them, and take them in to prevent further harm.

 

[Sinadrea]

It seems more like an aesthetic/fantasy interest than livestock or pet care. They like the idea of chickens looking cute in the yard (thats their favorite animal it seems since they collect alot of trinkets), but when the reality involves daily care and responsibility, things tend to fall apart. They previously had baby chicks, some died, and others escaped and ended up stuck on mouse glue traps. My sister and I had to step in, rescue them, and take them in to prevent further harm.

Sounds like she shouldn't be trying to raise chicks. Maybe suggest her getting pullets, but you may have to intervene again.

 

[Cloverfluff]

Oh no! I'm sure the hens would still use it but, that is an issue, especially in the winter. What caused it to collapse?

Freezing rain built up too heavy on the tarp and between missing a support bar and previous joint damage from a windy day, it just collapsed. Luckily the run is normally just in use for when I'm not going to be home for a few days, otherwise they free range the yard and I shut them in the smaller coop runs in the evening. Thankfully it happened overnight, so everyone was still sleeping when it fell. I've got enough of it cleared out that they can come and go from the coop easily enough until I replace it.

 

[Cloverfluff]

...I might not see the disclaimers at the chick vendors because all I see is those fluffy cuties

Still going through this long list of things...I want more chickens

I have not been on holiday/even a day trip anywhere since I have chickens because I can not trust anyone to care for my chickens....that I forgot to put on the long list.

I just have to use caution in the colder seasons. I just make sure they have cover from the elements and enough food and water for at least three days. I am lucky enough to have family or friends who can check on them every three days to collect eggs and refill food and water buckets. I usually have a large covered run so that they have plenty of space even while fully enclosed.