craftyhunnypie Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Hi everyone! When I came home from caravanning last night - all the chookies were in bed, with the doors closed - Good job done by my chicken sitter. However, when I came to let them out this morning I really could have cried! I know they poo a lot but I really don't think their straw or newspaper in the poo trays has been changed all weekend. Oh yes, they have food, water & grit - because those are the clean jobs. But I even leave strong heavy duty rubber gloves, plenty of swing bin liner bags for the poo etc. It only takes 10 minutes to change them & poo pick! The house stinks, it's filthy and it looks like they have been neglected! The cube isn't as bad as the girls all go in the nesting box, so poo trays and roosting bars are fine, but again the straw is minging! I am so so upset - the welfare of my chooks comes before anything & I'm now worried about the next time I'm away. My sister says she would have the chickens at ther farm, but to take the cube would be a mither. Perhaps I need to buy another eglu to be able to take 2 eglu's and chooks to hers when I go on holiday. I'm fuming, upset & really really could cry! I've spelt it out what they had to do last time, as they were a bit lapse last time - but now! What on earth do I do? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Find another chicken sitter.... Your current one has not done what you asked and what you paid for. Is there a teenager nearby who would like to earn some pocket money? Or maybe you should look at getting a professional pet sitting company on the case. Is there an Omleteer near you with whom you could establish a reciprocal arrangement. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Oh Emma I'm sorry to hear that. We love our caravan and haven't been able to go away this year and am missing it terribly, but the thing that concerns me most is who will look after menagerie, because I am always worried that "Ooops, word censored!"ody will do it like I do. We normally go away for 4 weeks a year - 2 x 1 week and one x 2 week trips. It is the only way I can relax and de-stress from the job, but the thought of finding a sitter is a nighmare, hence we haven't even managed a weekend this year. So I really feel for you. And if they don't want to do it properly they should have just given you an excuse as to why it wasn't convenient rather than do half a job. It really is only 10 minutes a day after all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 if you live in widnes I would help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted October 29, 2007 Author Share Posted October 29, 2007 Awww thanks everyone! But we go away a lot of weekends with our caravan club (hubby on the committee) & have a week here, a week there - plus our main 2 week holiday in a year. So I need a reliable chicken sitter. The sitter who normally does them is a teenager & I've been pleased with her, but the last time & this time her parents have been doing them as she was away with the school. So I'm not sure if I can actually blame her, but it puts me in a funny situation as I'm never going to know who's doing them each time I go away. I suspect that there are some other teenagers living down the same road, I need someone I can totally trust. My neighbour will know what children live down her road - as she is a bit nosey! I can't ask her as she is nearly 70 & can only manage to look after our cat. She comes round & feeds the chooks a bit of salad & greens, but she can't really bend to do the chooks. In February this year, I had someone from the caravan club look after them whilst we were in Austria & they weren't away in their caravan! We had our caravan parked in the driveway then & they had full use of it to make cuppas etc. The chooks were well pampered! But they go away with us in the caravan on our club weekends! I think buying another eglu is the only solution? I can't move the cube where it is, otherwise I could have put it on the back of brother in laws trailer & taken it to hers when we go away. Oh it's terrible! I'm just going to have to speak with the neighbour & find a new sitter through her! Yes, I pay my sitter very very well & bring her prezzies back from abroad & wine for her parents. Oh rant rant rant (big sigh) Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Maybe if you write down the specific instructions with a litle explanation of why each step is necessary, you will get what you want from the sitter. Worth a try. Whereabouts in Cheshire are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted October 29, 2007 Author Share Posted October 29, 2007 I'm in Sandbach. There is a bloke in Sandbach that runs a Small Animals Holiday place & I know he is good - because my mum & dad take their parrot there. I also know that he has his own chickens & I think you can take chickens there for him to lok after. But I'd worry about stressing my chooks & how would I move 6 of them? In a dog crate? As for chicken sitter instructions - when she first started, I gave her a basic book on keeping chickens (the one that features the eglu) all the pulling apart of the eglu instructions - although I always do this before we go away & a full demo & talk on how to do everything & why. So she does know! Last week I left step by step instructions like change water & top up food & grit, then let out. Shut door to eglu / cube & change straw & newpaper blah blah blah...shut in at night & repeat all next day. I don't think I can be much clearer. My white leghorn ' Smartie' is not herself today either - tail down & fluffed up sat down in the run. I'm watching her like a hawk! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Sandbach is a bit far...otherwise I would have offered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Emma, how many hens do you have in the Eglu? I have 4 in mine & with Aubiose I find I only need to clear the poop try twice a week, so I am a bit that you do it so often. I could & have happily left mine over a weekend. Maybe I am just a slovenly mare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 I suppose it is what you are used to. I must admit I leave mine a bit longer - I happily leave them well stocked with food and water for a couple of days. When we had a 2 week holiday my neighbours looked after them. I didn't think they would appreciate the mucking out so I stripped everything down and scrubbed it before I went and just asked them to empty the poo trays the once after the first week. I also left clean straw to add to the nest box. When we got back my first job was to give it all another good clean. The chooks were quite happy! OK a bit longer than normal between cleans, but no harm done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kazaddress Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 can omlet create an eglu trailer.... so you can just take them with you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 If you are paying well, you can expect the job to be done according to your instructions. I would speak to the teenager/parents and say that it didn't look as if the poop tray had been changed. See what they say. I wasn't sure from your post how long you'd been away, but I certainly wouldn't expect anyone to clean them out just over a weekend. Now that the shorter days are here, I will revert to cleaning twice a week, but during the summer I find once a week is definitely enough. So maybe you are asking too much? But if you are also paying, that's your privilege, you can ask them to do whatever you like really. Maybe it's the parents and not the teenager? It would be a shame to penalise him/her if it's the parents. Good luck with whatever you decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Ginette is right - I wouldn't expect mine to be cleaned out over a weekend, but then we all have different standards. I've had some problems with my lovely animal sitter in that he feeds them all far too much. He has specific written instructions, but I had to get him round and demonstrate exactly the amount to give, otherwise the cats and bunnies were getting far too much food. Try asking them round and showing them how to empty the poo trays and where to find the clean Hemcore/newspaper to go inside - they may just be operating from a position of ignorance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 We have a caravan and go away a lot at weekends and during holidays. That is precisely why we didnt buy a cube when we got the new chooks. We have the 2 eglus and they are so easy to transport - so they go over to my sisters who has to stick by my list of instructions!! ( she knows how passionate we are about our chickens). We also bought 2 reconditioned runs from Omlet and they stay over my sisters so we just have to take over the 2 houses. So sorry you were upset Emma....I would have been too....as I do worry about our chooks when we are away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 I could come over and clean them out for you if the chook sitter doesn't like that bit karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted October 29, 2007 Author Share Posted October 29, 2007 I really don't think I am asking too much. We go usually on a Friday about 11am and come back Sunday about 7pm. I only expect their water changed, top up layers pellets & grit. When I say clean out, I'm not asking them to pull the eglu apart, all I ask is for the Straw to be changed & the newspaper in the poo tray rolled up, put in a bag & into the bin & replace with new newspaper. I only expect them to do this once eg: on say the Saturday. My 3 newbies are dirty filthy girlies who can poo for England & poo every day in their nest. SO one change of straw in a weekend is by no means over the top & too much to ask. When I'm home, I don't change them every day. But I ensure that they are clean & will be comfortable for the night on cleanish straw. A build up of Ammonia is bad for them! Maybe I sound obsessive???? NO! I just think that they deserve to be looked after. Would you seriously sleep in your own poop & breathe in the sweet smell of urine? I certainly wouldn't! Anyway, I have stripped the eglu down & give it all a thorough wash & powdered it all including myself. Smartie eventually perked up & ate a bit of leftover pumpkin! Only had an egg off Bounty today - the others were too disgusted with their house! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Emma, can I suggest that you use Stalosan powder to keep the ammonia down and Hemcore or Aubiose, which is less damp and inclined to smell than straw? I use both and currently have 11( ) banties in the eglu at night, and virtually no smell at all and I empty the poo tray just twice a week. tyhe poo stray and nest are never damp beacuse the Hemcore just seems to make any damp just vanish. You can get Stalosan from the lovely Terry Beebe of Regency Poultry (online) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 I agree with both of Clarets suggestions. They work very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted October 29, 2007 Author Share Posted October 29, 2007 Ooo thanks for that Claret! I'll go order some Stalosan right away. Erm just a quick question...do you think easy bed in the nest may be worth a try too? As that is what I often use in their run. If not I'll go get some Hemcore. It's just that I have just bought a great big back of the stuff! Thanks for your offer Karen, but I don't think we are away now until New year - so I've a bit of time to try & sort something. I'll let you know if I am absolutely desperate! Thanks! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 You could use up your Easibed in the nest and poo tray - it'd be drier in the nest than straw, but personally, I'd change to Hemcore or Aubiose when you've run out. The problem with straw is that it can appear dry on the top, but have a sodden, stinky layer underneath I use Stalosan sprinkled over the inside of the eglu after I've cleaned it. under and in the poo tray - it's fab! I started with the trial shaker and graduated to the big tub and I decant it into an old water bottle for sprinkling on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 does stalosan smell nice Clare? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 It's OK, not unpleasant, but not perfumed either, just smells clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clash City Rocker Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 I'm going away in a few weeks and have been quoted £75.00 by my local "pet sitting company" (1 weeks work). Let them out in the morning, Lock them away in the evening, use my feed, water & keep any eggs!! seems expensive so I said "No thanks". Is £75.00 per week reasonable or not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 (edited) Yikes! thats very expensive Clash. local dog kennels down the road charges £9 a night for my sisters cocker spaniel and that includes walking and food!! For £75 they are virtually doing nothing - just opening and closing a door and doing the food. blimey! Edited October 29, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 does stalosan smell nice Clare? It smells a bit like Germolene to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
