scottishchicken Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Well our first birds are settled in, and we're loving the fun and the eggs. Now my thoughts are turning to our next holiday in the Autumn, and how to get holiday cover. We have a friend nearby who will look after them, but if she's away we're a bit stuffed. How do poeople get holiday cover? Has anyone paid a local kid, or used other cunning devices to make it an attractive post? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 we found a local pet sitter (dog/cat) and trained her to be able to look after hens! It costs us £10 a day (get them out and de-poo and put them in again) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueandwhite Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 The first time we went away we took them back to the farm they came from, where they were treated as 'holiday hens' and stayed at the owners house. This was free, however, they obviously didn't like the travelling as one moulted on return (she may have done this anyway - no way of knowing) the other didn't lay for two weeks. So the last two times our very kind neighbours have looked after them, coming over every day and sitting with them, which they love. In exchange they took the eggs (we give them surplus anyway). The longest we have been away is three nights though and I wouldn't expect them to do it for longer. So we are really lucky - just worried our house is up for sale and may not be so lucky in future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 I'd pay a local trustworthy teen but have the telephone number of an experienced chicken keeper available so they can phone for help if anything out of the ordinary arises Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Or if you've got really nice neighbours... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Mine go back to their breeder as we are away a couple of weeks at a time, they have always come back happy and healthy and she charges £1 per chicken per night which I think is very good for the peace of mind it gives me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 We takes ours to a pet hotel about 20 miles ( half an hour ) away..... this is on the way to any place we want to go though. It costs £1 per night per hen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 My next door neighbour looks after the girls when we go away. She loves looking after them and having the eggs as payment. In fact, we often come back to find she gives us most of the eggs that she has collected back as she 'doesn't want to be greedy' It's always worth asking your neighbours if they would be willing to take care while you are away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 I have a good friend who comes in once a day to check food and water and collect eggs. When we went on holiday together, I used a local pet-sitter to feed the cats, and then casually mentioned the chickens! She was absolutely thrilled to do them, especially when I said she could keep any eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 My Mum's friends look after them. They love them, a bonus that they get too keep any eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Hi I don't know where you are but Jocelyn Scott at "Hen keeping made easy " Fife does hen boarding. Can't do linky thing .I usually have someone to stay over & look after the entire menagerie. Worth it for peace of mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottishchicken Posted July 27, 2011 Author Share Posted July 27, 2011 Wow folks, what a great bunch of replies - thanks very much indeed. I'm tending towards the house sitter thing right now - got a couple of friends that might do that, but I've got a superb selection of options there. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 My in laws move in to look after all the animals. They see it as a holiday themselves, as they live in a city, so come for a break. It works well most of the time, but my father in law does attempt DIY on our house (usually after a bottle of whiskey), he hammered nails in our floor last time and broke the guttering, so it comes with costs! I insist on the garage being locked so he can't get at the tools! We couldn't go away without them though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
