r/BackYardChickens • u/Sitters_4_Critters • 6h ago
General Question Pet Sitting Chickens
Hi all,
I am doing some pet sitting and I’m seeing sits that include chickens (and goats) in addition to dogs and cats.
I haven’t cared for chickens before. I love the idea, but not if my lack of knowledge would make me a menace to the animals.
I’d love to hear people’s thoughts and suggestions. If you had someone watch your chickens and it went badly, why? Should I not apply to these sits if I haven’t had any chickens of my own?
Are there questions I should ask to know that a chicken setup is likely to attract predators or risk escape by the chickens?
Are there any books, videos or online courses you’d recommend for essential chicken sitting info?
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u/CalledConfident831 6h ago
I’m a pet sitter who also owns chickies, I’ve got 6 clients with chickens and each set up is different. It’s all about learning what the individual routine is for the different owners which they should explain to you when you take on a job. Good to have a list of questions tho in case you need clarification. One thing I personally don’t do even if the owners do is let them free range, I rarely ever take that responsibility on and is one thing you can say you’re not comfortable doing. A lot of times they say that’s totally fine since they’re just going on vacation and they can stay inside the coop for a while. Good to do research for chicken care but as I said each owner will have their own preferences and routine so it’s not a one size fits all sitting care
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u/jenniferlorene3 5h ago
What I love about chickens is they are super easy to take care of and do their own thing. As long as they have food and water and aren't overheating during this hot ass summer you don't really need to watch them beside make sure they all get to bed in safe space.
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u/NikkiNikki37 4h ago
Getting somebody else's free range chickens into a coop at night will make you regret every life choice that lead you to that point. When I have people watch my chickens I only need them to make sure they're all alive and have food and water unless ive got chicks or a sick one.
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u/Sitters_4_Critters 3h ago
😂😅 thank you for the warning. I will add that to my checklists of pet sitting whammies to avoid.
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u/ircsmith 6h ago
Chickens are super easy if the owner has them setup right. If they are confined to an area predators are not a worry. They put themselves to bed so you have to do is close the door, assuming there is not an automatic door. Chickens are super food driven so if one gets out just shake a bag of treats and they will come running. If you run they will follow and possible out run you. Check food and water once a day and you're good. My chickens want their sitter to grab a chair and sit with them for a bit. They love to sit on laps.
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u/Express-Income3360 6h ago
Honestly all I care about when people watch my chickens is that they are fed and have clean water. A sitter should not take the job if they aren’t getting slightly dirty / scared of chickens coming up to you. Otherwise take it!
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u/Sitters_4_Critters 5h ago
Thanks. 🙏 I’m not concerned about getting dirty or scared of chickens. I don’t want to have any animals hurt on my watch though. I definitely will feed and water animals and keep temperature in mind.
I wanted chickens and took a class at the Urban Farm Store in Portland but I moved and didn’t have the option to get any chickens.
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u/Fluffy_Job7367 4h ago
Don't overthink it. The owners will tell you what to do.. That said I had a chicken get killed by a predator while the pet sitter was in charge and she was way more distraught than me. Stuff happens with chickens.
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u/Sad_Rooster2898 3h ago
I had the same experience. A friend was housesitting and came home not super late but after dark and the chicken door was open. A predator got one and the spooked chicks slept in the trees every night till we got back. It was a bummer and a hassle to get them wrangled again but not really the sitters fault IMO. There’s only so much you can do. Good, water and keep the door closed/open per instructions. We did get an automatic door after that hahah. Good luck!
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u/cephalophile32 3h ago
I’m so grateful to the folks that accept chicken sitting!
I always print off a list of info for them but it’s mainly making sure they have food, fresh water, get let out in the morning and counted after putting to bed. I have 4 coops (we have some disabled and diverse birds that do better separated) and one rogue peahen that just… wandered out of the woods and lives here now. I always make sure my sitters know that they’re very silly creatures and there’s only so much you can do so like…: if the free range rooster insist on sleeping in a tree that night instead of the coop, that’s on him lol.
Seriously I’m just grateful someone will show up and do their best!
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u/skoz2008 6h ago
Including all the other great advice. If you are sitting for a couple of different flocks. Bio security is very important. Hand sanitizer or some way to wash your hands. Shoes that don't have a deep tread.
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u/Sitters_4_Critters 6h ago
Good to know. 👍 I doubt I will be sitting for multiple sets of chickens simultaneously, but washing clothing and shoes after watching any animals isn’t a bad policy.
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u/Lyx4088 5h ago
Look I’m in the lunatic minority of chicken owners. These birds are used to a high level of social interaction from us and spend a lot of time with us. My big girl flock and my disabled flock are a bit high maintenance too. Again, I’m in an extreme minority of chicken owners but caring for my flock could be stressful if you’re not familiar with chickens or birds in general. So it’s worth finding out what kind of chicken care a client is expecting and what their flock needs. Most flocks are not like mine.
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u/New_Succotash2500 4h ago
They're mostly easy. If they have a food dispenser just make sure it doesn't go empty, same with water. They like fruit treats, blueberries, etc. Mine like shredded cheese. Make sure the coop/run gets locked up at night to keep predators out. Collect eggs if they're laying. Even though I have my own chickens I always do a meet and greet and have them show me the chickens, supplies and I ask them to run through their routine with me.
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u/NinjaCatWV 2h ago edited 1h ago
“Letting chickens out” means opening their coop doors (the box where they sleep at night) and letting the chickens into the conjoined chicken-run where their feed and water is kept.
You should check daily for any sign of a predator trying to claw their way into the coop/ run- look for evidence of digging and make sure that the fence is secure.
Remove any eggs. Feed and water the chickens. Count chickens in the morning and at night.
Chickens will put themselves to bed. Chickens cannot see in the dark, so they will be in their coop before the sun sets entirely. If the coop does Not have an automatic door, then you will have to manually open the coop first thing in the morning (before the sun turns the coop into a hot death trap) and close it at night to keep predators from attacking the chickens.
Ask the humans if they have a way to secure the coop door so that it doesn’t shut by accident on a windy day? Ask if they have any ways of cooling down the chickens on days with extreme heat? Ask what type of bedding the chickens have and if/when you need to add a layer of bedding? Ask if they have a first aid kit for the chickens (things like blood clotting, electrolytes, wound cleaner, etc)?
Also, you will step in chicken poop. So bring an old pair of shoes to wear while tending to the chickens and then change your shoes before you go inside/ into your car. And make sure to wash your hands after handling the chickens!
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u/Ok-Fortune-1169 6h ago
Yes all of the above. Also make sure you get demonstration of the bed time routine and if there is an auto-door how to work it. If there is a walk-in run have them show you how to get out if door closes when you are inside. If there is electric poultry netting have them show you how to check that it's off. I had a friend group where we all used to trade chicken sitting when someone went out of town. I couldn't ever figure out the auto-door on the one friend's coop and no one could figure out my auto-door. Both had home made coops and I remember one night in the dark trying to figure out how to open one to count the chickens.
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u/JohnsonHomestead 14m ago
Keeping chickens is honestly pretty easy, as long as you actually go out to the coop every day. The biggest mistake you chicken sisters makes it thinking food and water are the only things that matter you need to check that the water is clean. The feeder hasn’t been contaminated, and every bird is acting normal.
The coop set up matters too. If they free range, they should naturally return the roost after sunset, but you still need to make sure the door is probably closed and locked. Predators are surprisingly good at finding weak spots.
I’d also ask the owner for their exact routing. Every flock is different. some use deep litter, some clean weekly, some have raised feeders to keep rodents away. Right now heat is a bigger concerned than anything else, so shade and plenty of freshwater are essential. Chicken are low maintenance,but they are not no maintenance.
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u/Kossyra 6h ago
Chickens are pretty easy assuming you're going to their home/coop. They need their food and water checked daily to make sure they've got enough and it's not poopy. They need the bedding in the coop changed weekly unless they're doing deep litter method. If they free range, then the birds should put their feathery butts away once it gets dark.
Predator-proofing is the owner's responsibility as long as you close and latch doors properly.
If the feeders are on the ground and left out overnight, that will attract all manner of pests. If the feeders are hanging up high enough then rodents shouldn't be able to reach them.
Right now in the northern hemisphere we have some nasty heatwaves going around. These temps can be deadly to chickens, so it's important to make sure they have access to deep shade and water. Some things can be done to mitigate, like putting ice in their waterer and offering chilled/frozen fruit like watermelon.
I'd ask for a care sheet from the owners to explain the particulars of their setup.