would you make a fuss?

[janeyo]

We went away for the weekend (3 days) and my neighbour fed my chickens in the mornings and my mum came in the afternoon to feed the cats and check for more eggs.
Despite both people having looked after them before and having written instructions as to what I normally do (food quantities, using water butts, giving corn and greens etc), when I got back yesterday and checked them the water was BONE dry.

I was a bit cross as I think it's not rocket science to feed and water a few chickens.

But do I make a fuss and jeopordise (sp?) chances of them looking after chickens in the future? Or leave it and hope it was just an oversight? The poor girls were clearly thirsty as when I filled it up all of them came for a drink at once.

Thoughts please, thanks

[shirlthegirl43]

Since the chooks were okay even if a bit thirsty I wouldn't risk losing your carers but rather stress the water checking if you leave them to care for them again. The boys did much the same to ours the first few times they were left but I now have a bigger water tub which is right by the pophole so it reminds the lads to check it is full.

[di]

I'd definately not make a big fuss...they were doing you a favour and you can't be sure that your girls hadn't just emptied the bowl.
I'd maybe just say Thankyou and subtly point out that when you got back they had no water and how vital it is for them to have it at all times for their health and egg laying abilities....perhaps suggest that next time they fill it up higher.
If you get angry about it you'll risk losing valued chook sitters and holidays will become more of an effort.

[rustylady]

At least the chooks were OK, even if thirsty. Is your water container large enough?

[Pumpkin Becki]

I think I'd say something like...

'I've just found out a fascinating chook fact - if a hen goes without water for one day, her egg production can go up the creek for a fortnight!! Isn't that amazing! One day!!'

[Nicos]

more water containers is the way to go !

You can't afford to lose chook sitters
Maybe you could ask your mom to check up on the water too next time- esp as the weather will be getting warmer- and they'll be drinking more( she may not have thought about checking if you'd asked her to check for eggs- she'll make a good 'back up' for your neighbour!
Team work eh??

[minskey]

Larger water containers. I use washing up bowls, they take 7L each and with 25 hens at least one will be empty at some point in the day. Its safe for me as there are no chicks to fall in.

[Glutton4...]

When we went away last summer, I left my folks with 'Chook-care' instructions, and even walked them round and pointed out everything to them, also I explained about when to collect the eggs, and why. Came home a week later, to both feeders and one water hopper empty, and an egg-eating habit that had to result in culling a Chook!

I was extremely cross, it's not like they had to go out of their way to do the 'job' as the birds are in their garden, and they're both retired and at home most days.

But, they are a valuable asset, and will be called upon next time I go away. Can't afford to upset 'em!

[Glutton4...]

Larger water containers. I use washing up bowls, they take 7L each and with 25 hens at least one will be empty at some point in the day. Its safe for me as there are no chicks to fall in.

Beware those words Minskey. I have lost a Chook to drowning in an open container, so has Hayley. I'm pretty sure another Grape lost one in a belfast sink too!

[kirsty b]

Last time we went away, my next door neighbour did it for us. Chooks were fine, and as he had to plod down the plot every day to do it, I told him he could sell the eggs he collected that week after he had used whatever he wanted.
Bless him, he even used some of the egg money to buy them some more corn.

Would deffo ask him again.

[Nicos]

Beware those words Minskey. I have lost a Chook to drowning in an open container, so has Hayley. I'm pretty sure another Grape lost one in a belfast sink too!

...I have a baby bath full as a back-up!!!

Ah well- chicks due this weekend, so it'll have to go away anyway!
Thanks for letting us know aboutt that

...oh- and janeyo- at least you didn't have one of your gals shut away ( by a 'thoughtful' neighbou)for 3 or 4 days with no food and water to stop her being broody!!!!!!

[MaureenHall]

I think I'd say something like "the weather must be getting warmer for the girls, they're drinking loads! In fact they'd even emptied the containers before I got home"

[janeyo]

Thanks all, such sensible advice!

I am certainly not going to risk losing my chicken sitters. I have one drinker that holds about 2 litres and I fill it every other day for 6 hens. They usually make it so dirty that I have to wash it then anyway. Think will invest in another one.

The girls have laid today so no lasting effects and I think there may be some muddy puddles round the tree they could have got a bit from. I was quite surprised to see it so bone dry, they had defo not knocked it over. I suppose as I treat them so well I expect everyone else to fuss over them as I do!

[RichmondHens]

People will never do your animals the way you do, even if they have some of their own. However you need your animal sitters, so one has to be diplomatic.

I try never to go away when I have small chicks about, as I don't trust anyone to do those. We used to have a neighbour at the old house who despite having cats herself, still overfed ours massively and our greedy one got so fat one holiday she could hardly get out the cat flap. Same neighbour babysat a broody hen once and just kept adding more corn into the feed bowl day after day, despite my instructions to only add more if the bowl was empty. Came back to a HUGE mountain of corn overflowing all over the grass!!!
On the other side of the coin another neighbour helped out with the chooks one time and I had said don't bother catching any escapees, they will have to take their chances (we had one or two cocks who repeatedly got out of their enclosure). Came home to hear she had been out till 10 pm one night trying to round them up. That was beyond the call of duty and I felt very guilty she had gone to the trouble.

[di]

Out of interest....do you use one of the proper drinkers?
Might be that your neighbour either struggled opening it or simply didn't fancy fiddling about with it if it had any chook poop on.Perhaps check with them how they feel and maybe use something different next time you go away.We use some sturdy plastic dog bowls.