Once Again Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 I've been wanting to get guineas, and maybe some chickens or even goats, but my husband is concerned about it preventing us from taking off on a trip. So those of you who have btdt, what do you do when you want to take a vacation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueridge Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 When we lived in Texas, our neighbor asked us to tend their chickens for a couple of days while they went for a little trip. (They were actually gone for 3 weeks, but who's counting lol.) We were excited, got to learn all about roosters...:tongue_smilie:...and raccoons...:tongue_smilie:...but still had fun. So ask a nearby neighbor. Have a nice, restful vacation, away from the chickies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firefly Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 We're fortunate that we have neighbors and family available to help. But, I also know there are pet sitters in the area that offer care for livestock as well. That might be an option-- I'd check with other people in your area who have chickens/goats to get recommendations. You might wind up working out a trade situation. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfunnybunch Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 We ask friends to care for the chickens. It's the same as vacationing when you own cats or dogs or other pets. A friend comes over in the morning to let the chickens (and cats) out and in the evening to shut them up and check food and water. She gets to keep the eggs, so she's more than willing to help! If you've got a teenager or responsible preteen living nearby, they might enjoy making a little $, think $2-3 a day. Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 My kids just finished watching the neighbor's ducks for two weeks while they went away. It was really quite easy and the kids enjoyed the $2/day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 You have to pay people, yes. lol Sometimes your mother will do it...mostly she doesn't want to, but she will fill in here and there. Sometimes we leave the dogs in the barn so they can have friends, and amuse the chickens and cats. We have someone come to let them out twice a day, and while the dogs are running around, they feed the chickens. Sometimes we take the dogs, sometimes a really good friend will take them. We travel often, sometimes for a couple of weeks, sometimes just for a couple of days. The dogs do not like to be boarded, so we have not done that in a long time. Chickens are really simple to care for. You do have to think about the animals. And you do mostly have to pay someone. ;) Travel is one reason we don't have goats. I am not sure goats are that much harder than dogs, but most people get dogs, but might be freaked out by a goat. My mother would not come feed goats. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 I've taken care of others' chickens when they've been out of town - my friend was in Singapore for 6 weeks in the middle of the winter! I had to trudge through snow to get to the pen. It's actually what convinced me we could handle owning fowl - they're so easy to take care of. Just tossed more food and water at them and collected the eggs. We have two guineas now, but haven't been out of town since we got them. I'm sure we could find someone to take care of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 I've taken care of others' chickens when they've been out of town - my friend was in Singapore for 6 weeks in the middle of the winter! I had to trudge through snow to get to the pen. It's actually what convinced me we could handle owning fowl - they're so easy to take care of. Just tossed more food and water at them and collected the eggs. We have two guineas now, but haven't been out of town since we got them. I'm sure we could find someone to take care of them. I agree! Since helping the boys with the ducks, I'm ready for chickens!!! But, they aren't technically allowed here. They were so darn easy to care for and the eggs were great!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 I pay a neighborhood kid to care for our critters. And if it is summer and you have a pond w/adequate water your goats should take care of themselves (assuming they are non-milking). Check with your local 4-h club or ffa club to find a kid that might be interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutor Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 We've fed friends' chickens when they were on vacation. Our pay was organic eggs. :) We often trade pet-care favors with friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veronica in VA Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 We've taken care of friends' chickens, rabbits, horses, etc, and in return they've taken care of our animals and gardens. My dc were involved in 4-H and we met a lot of other families that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 My adult son housesat at a house where the owners had cows, rabbits, cats, dogs, etc. He had another job too so this was just a side job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elise1mds Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 We only just got the chicks today, but we have all the other animals and have had to pay for animal-sitting services every time we've gone out of town for ages. At this point I'm lucky that one of my friends is still single and doesn't mind housesitting for free (well, we make sure the fridge is stocked and once the chickens start laying, she'd get the eggs), but she's been with her current boyfriend for nearly three years and I imagine the day is closing in when I have to shell out the dough again. Gotta find me a good college student... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 It shouldn't be too difficult to find someone to help with chickens while you're away. I had a friend who was very active in wild bird rehab. Finding someone to care for her owls, hawks and vultures if she needed to be away... now that was a challenge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lllll Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 We trade vacation chores with neighbors and there's never been a need for any sort of extra $$. We've taken trips as long as two months. They take shorter trips, but more frequently. The animals don't seem to care to be honest. We're not just talking chickens either, but ponies/horses, dogs, cats, chickens, plants, mail, paper, general house checking, and one neighbor has beef cows, another has sheep and goats. We know how to do their chores (on a basic level) and they know how to do ours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokotg Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 IME, chickens are easier to find petsitters for than anything else, since they come with free eggs! They're as easy as cats; you just need someone to come by every other day. We have 3 dogs and 2 cats on top of our chickens, and we've never had a problem finding a housesitter; we pay someone to stay, but if we only had the chickens I'm pretty sure we could work out a trade easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Once Again Posted May 12, 2010 Author Share Posted May 12, 2010 Thanks everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crl Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 My mom asks her farmer neighbor to come check on the animals. And whatever eggs they collect are theirs to take for free (as payment). They normally just load up the feeders and watering tubs (sometimes adding an extra tub if they think it's needed) If it's more than just a long day trip or a quick overnight, I normally go up and stay at the house to care for the sheep, dogs, goat, and chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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