4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[chickencam]

The friend of mine who normally looks after my girls when we are away can't do our next holiday. I was wondering if anyone has used a pet care service for their girls and if so what sort of cost was involved.

 

There are about 4 different companies that cover this area, initially are going to check with the cattery that usually takes out cats. They have a few bantams and we are hoping that they might come over to do both cats and chooks.

 

Just wanted a few views of anyone who has had stangers coming to do this for them for a fee.

[Karen & co.]

I haven't but may need to next time we go away as my Father usually looks after them, but thhis year he slipped and dislocated his knee his wife is getting so much millage out of him being mugged by a chicken, what she forgets to tell people is that it took her 3 days to take him to A+E and even then she dropped him off and went home

 

I'll be interested to see what folks say about this type of holiday pet care.

 

Karen x

[henriette]

When I lived in Devon we always had a pet sitter in to look after the dogs, cats, chickens, ducks etc., etc. It really worked very well for us. We also had someone once from one of the national companies who was excellent, but I seem to remember they were very expensive.

We do the same over here in France, but the system is a little different. We use an agency called Homesitters. They take the money and the couples come and stay in the house for free and look after the animals, and or garden etc. We have had 10 different couples and it has worked out extremely well each time. Would possibly prefer to have the same person/people, as we did in the UK, but having said that we have so far, never had a problem and have returned home to find the house neat and tidy and the animals very happy!

[Margaret]

I take mine to Gill at Mumbles farm.

I brought 2 of my girlies from her and she takes them all when I go on holiday.

Little bit like boot camp as she is a proper farmer so no toys or treats, but they love me even more when I collect them

She charges £5.00 a week all in..Brilliant.

+ WIR

Lavender

Mabel

Posh Marjorie

[Redwing]

We used to have a local pet sitter in Bristol

 

For the two cats it was £6 a day and for that she would visit twice a day and spend time fussing the cats, for the dog too I think it was about £15 as he needed to be walked

 

Our pet sitter was qualified in animal first aid, police checked, provided proper T&Cs and discussed vet treatment with us

 

When we were on holiday and she called at our house one day in Feb 08 she found we had been burgled and the house was a mess, the cats were also missing, she dealt with the police and drew up notices to find the cats and everything and helped my FIL tidy up once the forensic team had left so we wouldnt come back to a mess, her professionalism was amazing

 

She was worth her weight in gold

 

Hopefully we will find someone as good up here in the Midlands, I dont mind paying for a good service as it means we can relax when on holiday - unfortunately now we will be looking for a smallholding sitter (which do exist) and so dont expect to get away with £15 a day

[Olly]

Yes - I've used them in the past for cats, and then 2 years ago when I'd just got my hens, I foolishly arranged to go on holiday with the friend who usually covers for me! We both had to make arrangements for our cats, and I got a local pet-sitting service. After she'd agreed to feed the cat, I casually said 'oh, and by the way .... '

 

She was fine with it, and absolutely thrilled to be able to take the eggs as well. I think it was about £8 a day - take a look in your local vet's as they will probably have a list of pet-sitters, and I'm sure ther will be one who is willing to do hens.

[JS1]

My brother is a registered petsitter/dog walker and pays to be a member of NARP (the national association) which means he is insured, has been checked etc. He hasn't done chickens as yet, but, although the main clients are dogs (and their owners) he does do cat visits. I think the going rate is probably around £5 or £6 per time. I think I'd always use someone registered with a national body as it does give some sort of reassurance, or would to me, at any rate.

 

My friend used a NARP member to 'do' her cat and chickens at the same time, and I think she was charged about that too.

[chickencam]

Well I have one booked for next week. It is a local company fully police checked and NARP registered. She seems really nice and loves chickens. She is coming in once a day in the mid afternoon, she will feed and water the chooks and cats and clean them out all for £8 per day. We were paying £11 a day just for the cats in the cattery and were paying a local teenager a further £5 a day when we had just 3 chooks.

 

I hope this works out, because she could be just what we need. She only lives a short distance away too.

[Olly]

That sounds ideal, and your cats will probably be happier staying at home than going to a cattery. I hope it works out well.

[Dolly]

Hi Chickencam

 

I notice you're in Cheltenham which isn't far from me, so if you don't mind, could you let me have the details of the sitters as this sounds exactly what we need too.

 

Thanks!

[Falkor]

 

Hopefully we will find someone as good up here in the Midlands, I dont mind paying for a good service as it means we can relax when on holiday - unfortunately now we will be looking for a smallholding sitter (which do exist) and so dont expect to get away with £15 a day

 

Em - **considers career change**

[Egluntyne]

Have just idled a few moments away looking at the NARP site. It costs a massive £480 plus to join.

 

I'll not bother just now.

[chickencam]

Hi Chickencam

 

I notice you're in Cheltenham which isn't far from me, so if you don't mind, could you let me have the details of the sitters as this sounds exactly what we need too.

 

Thanks!

 

I have pm'd you.

 

I agree Egluntyne I don't know how they make enough money. Their bread and butter work is daily dog walking I think at about £15 a shot, so I suppose it depends how much you can do in a day.

[wassy]

I used to be a petsitter, I got my insurance through petplan and was police checked etc. I used to do all animals, as I had experiance with horses and livestock I would do lots of small holdings as well as individual dogs/cats. I used to treat all animals as my own and really felt sad at the end of the owners holiday,it was a great job I even got christmas cards off some of the animals I looked after!!! I think it is a much more personal service and the pets really get the attention they are used to, im sure some of the dogs I looked after got walked a lot more when with me!

[JanTheDiver]

This is all good to hear for me too as I have booked a pet sitter to look after the cat and my six girls next weekend for the first time.

 

She has looked after one chicken for quite a while and wasn't fazed by the thought of six of them

 

She is NARP registered and police checked, seemed a lovely girl and runs the business with her Mum.

 

She is charging me £7 per visit, which I thought was quite reasonable.

 

Will see how they go this weekend; it won't stop me worrying about them though

[Mayo]

Hi Guys.

 

Does anyone happen to know how one goes about getting 'police checked'. I know I have been, 'cos I worked as a lecturer in a large London Prison, but have nothing in writing.

 

When I was a garden designer, I often stayed in clients houses, when they were on holiday, to pet-sit ; builder-supervise, etc., and it might make a good 'career' for me now that I have taken early retirement.

 

Any info gratefully received.

 

M.

 

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