[ray and row]

Hi all, we are thinking of having 4 chicken as pets, we have one problem, we do not have any one to look after them when we go away.  We have just moved into the area and do not know any body. We live in HOWDEN in EAST RIDING.

We are  only looking at possibly 3 weeks holiday a year, and a few weekends. We are happy to return the sitting if any one is available,  Many thanks Ray and Row

[Lindeggs]

Hello R&R, and welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately I'm too far away to help with your chicken sitting, but I have found having chickens has been an excellent way to get to know my neighbours.  I went on holiday for a week in July and asked my neighbour to mind my flock.  It was the first time I had met this young man as he had just moved in next door.

He turned out to be an excellent chicken sitter and even went to the pet shop and bought more food when I was stranded away from home due to snow! (Then he declined payment for the food when I got back.)  He did enjoy eating the eggs the girls laid for him too.

[ManicMum]

Ask around!  Local vet, local shop, school gates.....  Loads of people would love to have pets but can't - and chicken sitting is very easy (2 visits a day) and rewarding (keep the eggs). 

We go away fairly often & the neighbours almost fight over whose turn it is - and they are not impressed when oldest son decides to stay home.

We got the chicken-keeping bug through holiday duties for a friend's beasts, but hers are harder work as there's chickens, ducks, guinea pig, guinea fowl, broodies, mums with chicks...

The only thing I would say is type out an "Idiots Guide" for your sitter & pin it up near the food store so they don't have to remember everything.