want chicks can you still have a life?

[Mahonri]

You need to find someone you know and trust.

If you don't know your neighbors. It's time.

 

[Ladysonja]

Check with a co-worker who may live close by... or put an add in the local paper. The more time you give yourself to interview people, the better off you will be.

When my husband and I have to travel for work, we are lucky to have a house and pet setter. When we decided to take on chicks/chickens, I informed her that she would be getting a pay raise.

I think she likes staying at the house because she still lives at home and it's like a mini vacation for her, but a wonderful stress free travel for us...

Good Luck...

 

[Beekissed]

I leave for 4 days at a time and leave my chickens to freerange, with the dogs for protection. I think it just takes being prepared by having large continuous feeders and waterers, heated waterers in cold weather, etc. Whatever can happen to your chickens can happen while you are away for the day at work and you leave them for that long, don't you?

Somewhere along the line a person does the best they can to see that they have a good food and water supply, adequate protection from predators and then....add a little faith! Hasn't failed me yet. If you're going to be gone longer than your feeders and waterers will provide for, double up on these items. The eggs? Let 'em go, they will either be there when you get back or not...don't worry, they'll make more!

I have a moderate investment in these chickens, as well as a little time, but life isn't worth living if chickens can keep me from my family. You can always get more chickens...your family? You just get the one and a limited time with them, at that!
Do the best you can, and then, forget about them and have fun on vacation.

 

[keljonma]

We hired a teenaged local farm boy to take care of our Great Pyr and flock while we were away for a week-end. We know him from church and church sponsored community projects. We paid him cash, as he is trying to save for a car. I would not feel comfortable leaving my animals in the care of someone I didn't know and/or trust.

 

[heyjami]

We have a very responsible, bonded pet sitter.
The dogs are happy at home, cats enjoy the attention and now she'll handle the chickens (I'll tell her to keep any eggs she finds).
She also cares for horses, pigs, etc with other clients. We pay $20/visit and have her come twice per day (the dogs are let out and then back in at night, they sleep inside). Well worth the piece of mind.
She'll walk the dogs too.

 

[Linda in San Diego]

Ummm, before we even started the chicken thing we had so many parrots that vacationing as a family group for more than 2 days away has been out of the picture....now with chickens and dogs...unthinkable.

Petsitter - wow - umm - for real $$$. I will stay home, you all have a good time and I will enjoy the time to myself. LOL

 

[Tricia's Triple Z]

You could always look for a local 4H group. I bet that they would love that. My babies ALWAYS seem to get into some kind of trouble

 

[ams3651]

you could also contact the guidance counselor at a local high school, sometimes they can refer a responsible teenager who may want to pick up a couple bucks. I had my mom come and pet sit for a day and a half and she forgot to check on the chickens

Also, some people on here have found someone close by on occasion willing to help out.

 

[keljonma]

Maybe you have a BYC member near you????

 

[esjro]

keljonma, that is a great idea, I wonder if we could organize some sort of chicken sitting ring!

I use a petsitter for my dog. It is expensive, but since that is his profession he is very reliable and bonded and insured. A petsitter will also water plants, bring in the mail, turn lights on in the house, etc while you are gone. I just got my chicks but when we do go away overnight I will ask the petsitter to look in on the chickens as well.