What do you do when you go on vacation?

[Debs55]

We usually pay a family friend to take care of all my animals (chickens, goats, dogs, cats, and rabbits). They come over a couple times before we leave so we can show them what to do and we lay everything out and write down specific instructions

 

[Amina]

I was trying to start a map of potential chicken sitters. If we can get lots of BYC people to add themselves to the map, it could be a viable option:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/845677/map-of-potential-chicken-sitters

 

[SFBayArea]

Another idea..... conact your local 4H to find a responsible kid. Lots of their parents will provide transportation as part of their child's yearly project.

FFA is another place to check.

What is 4H or FFA?

 

[Plough]

4H and Future Farmers of America are youth organizations basically focused on farm based education and experience.

National websites:
http://www.4-h.org/
https://www.ffa.org/Pages/default.aspx

 

[SFBayArea]

Thank you!

 

[Plough]

In reference to being tied down your no more tied down than with any other pet. Friends, neighbors, family, even pet sitters would be able to deal with them. Depending on the size of your coop/run and their needs (depending on your equipment[feeders/waterers]) you could need them to be checked on at most 2 times a day and as little as once a week.

My fiancee and I pet sit and if your in the south bay we can help. PM me if your interested.

 

[Just Wingin It]

I just got back from a two week business trip; I have 15 chickens and 2 ducks. I filled a covered 25# feeder, and had a self watering dog dish i bought from tractor supply. It hooks up to the water hose. Its a 4" high dish and water level is 2" deep. Unfortunately with this lovely weather we were All getting, it had to be unhooked. It gives them water for a week unhooked, plus rain. (Or sleet). I left my coop door open and took a sheet of thick clear plastic (walmart craft dept) and nailed it over the doorway. I cut 5 slits up the plastic 2" apart, 10"tall, it keeps the coop closed and those smart gals figured it out real quick.
The ducks werent in the chicken run, but I feed them next to it. The neibors I shared ducks with (pet ducks) gave them a scoop of food every other day. If it were spring, they can forage and survive when neccesary.

Nobody collected eggs, (cmon neibors, snakes are hybernating, its safe to collect eggs lol)
I had 4 dozen eggs and 20 more under a broody. Im curious to see how many hatch.

Always help your neibors with their pets, they seem to be happy to return a favor.

 

[Chickens R Us]

My neighbor and I help each other out. I'll watch his horse and cats and he will watch my chickens and dogs. I also have my sister watch my animals during the summer if I go somewhere. This spring I'm going to Florida and a younger single person I work with is going to house sit for me. It will still be too cold to leave the dogs in the kennel so I need the house sitter for them more than the chickens. No matter who I have take care of my chickens I always tell them to keep all the eggs it's a great selling point.