oh my! these are all good suggestions. I've never ever followed most of them - all I do is make sure there is extra food on hand, since the chicken sitter might be extra generous with the food, walk them thru the process of opening the coop, where to find eggs, how to feed and water, how to manage the gate, etc - give my cell phone number, and thats it!
With new sitters, I make sure they know they need to get the eggs out so as not to nudge anyone into broodiness. I had to laugh one summer when I came home and there were a ton of eggs in a nest - asked my neighbor (who is a farmer, grew up on a dairy farm) what was up, and he sheepishly confessed that he was afraid to stick his hand under the hen to get the eggs!
Enjoy your trip. Happy Anniversary too!
With new sitters, I make sure they know they need to get the eggs out so as not to nudge anyone into broodiness. I had to laugh one summer when I came home and there were a ton of eggs in a nest - asked my neighbor (who is a farmer, grew up on a dairy farm) what was up, and he sheepishly confessed that he was afraid to stick his hand under the hen to get the eggs!
Enjoy your trip. Happy Anniversary too!