Chicken Boarding

E

elmwood

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Hi,

I am seriously considering "chicken boarding" for those of us who need a reliable, enthusiastic and caring person to look after your feathered girls when on holiday during the spring and summer months.

I am located in Staffordshire, just off the main road network i.e. M6, A50. Having done some calculations could initially house up to 5 chickens per area x 3 houses max, (4 with our own girls), No Boys I am afraid.

This would include food- Garvo layers pellets/ growers or bring your own, corn in an afternoon, daily fresh water with option of ACV for a weeks stay, fresh "BLISS" bedding, daily poop picking, TLC & cuddle time, me on site 24/7 and they would free-range in their designated largish area. The houses would be sanitised before their arrival with Poultry Shield.

I would also ensure all girlies were sprayed with frontline upon arrival, and if anyone wanted me to worm them with Flubenvent for their weeks stay then that could be arranged. No predators, enclosed largish garden with a 6 foot perimeter fence. Shrubs & bushes for shade, logs to perch and soil to dustbathe.

All in all a holiday for the chickens..... I would even wash dirty feet!

I was thinking £4 per night. Min 2 nights = £10.

Do you think this would be viable? Would there be any interest?
 
Hi
I have been "hen sitting for the last 2 years", as long as the borders are well away from your own birds you will be fine, as other peoples birds may pose a health risk to your own stock.
 
I could do with something like that .. but no one wants 270 birds :-)09 :-)09 and above all not birds that show regularly - with all the health issues that come with showing - I would love a chook sitter though :D :D
 
Go for it!
Will you have a sizeable financial outlay initially?
If not I would say that there is absolutely no harm in placing an ad to test the water.
Put up a post for us to name your chook motel........! Now that would be funny.....Mmmmmmmm got me thinking now! :D :D :-)19
 
Hi,

Dorinda, - Have always fancied a trip up to scotland. BUT 270 birds, I think would kill me.

Aileen- I don't think the financial outlay will be much to speak off other than some more of our fencing and poles to segregate the garden into four good chunks. If we had flighty birds I would put some fruit netting over the top. As for all the medical paraphenalia I have the lot. Food is plentiful etc.....As for houses, well we have four under 12mths old dotted around the garden for our 5 girls.

If it were to take off, I would re-invest any funds in long term facilities. No point forking out too much if no-one comes to stay at ELMWOOD TOWERS CHOOK HOTEL?? :lol:
 
The hens that I board are kept about 500ft away from my own birds, I keep them in secure fox proof houses and runs which are disenfected after each stay
 
Ive looked after other peoples chickens/ducks/horses etc but would go to their home twice daily, but have boarded guineapigs etc here at home.. Have been thinking about doing the same here.
 
Hi,

Well thankyou for your replies and input. I am still very keen- however my boarding will be on a much smaller scale to your guys on here. I think "back-yard chicken boarding" would be more appropriate- NOW when we have more land they sky is the limit...... if only.

Oh and the reason for this thinking is I have lots more time on my hands given now I am no longer working due to my health- so a little project like this fits the bill nicely.
 
i read this in the paper last week some guy decided to do a chicken hotel in his garden and was going to charge 75p per night per bird ... no point of me thinking of doing this we have barely any chicken keepers around here that do it on a small garden size scale i mean peeps with only a few birds .
 
Sounds good! :D

I've looked after a few peoples chickens (and other pets) before and worked at a Childrens Farm where we did Animal Boarding, but after getting a few messages from people asking if I know anywhere locally that will look after their chickens I decided to make a little website :lol:
Lewis' Chicken Sitting - hope thats ok to post?

Had a few messages about it already and I've actually had a booking this evening! 8-)
Have 3 girls coming to stay with me for a few weeks over Easter.

I had a look around at other people and most seem to charge from £2 per hen per night so thought I'd do the same.
 
Hi Lewis,

I do like your site. I think you have struck the right balance, friendly and efficient.

Now, As you are a clever uni chap, how about helping me out or at least giving me some info on how to set up "Elmwoods chicken hotel site"? ..... please 0:-)

I have tried on several occasions to set up a web site but it has beaten me each time- must be middle age /dementia. ( I was training people on computers before windows was even thought of and you were in nappies). :lol:
 
The only 'problems' as such I can see are biosecurity and stress.

Moving the birds can cause them to become stressed with the change in enviroment and if they don't have good, strong immune systems to start with, could pick up any passing disease.

On the biosecurity front, bringing in birds close to your own that may be carriers of a disease could introduce problems to your own birds and vice versa. It could carry on your feet or hands even at feeding time as I'm sure you know. I would try to quarantine them as much as you can from your birds, just like bringing birds back from a show.

I know it sounds a little OTT but I would be tempted for your own protection to put together a short little disclaimer stating that whilst you do everything you can to look after their birds whilst they are away, you cannot guarantee they won't become ill during their stay or words to that effect.

I would also get a signature to say they are happy to reimburse you for any veterinary bills you may receive if you need to take them to the vet... It's a tough one this as some people never take their birds to the vet based on their small value, yet others will spend what it takes and you will have a duty of care legally to look after them which may include getting veterinary treatment for them...

Website looks good though, I hope it takes off for you. :-)17

Sharron - I would have a look at Wordpress software if I were you. They have auto-installers on most servers that will set most of it up for you. All you have to do then is log in and using a template, adjust it to what you want. I have set up 3 or 4 now and it takes me about 4 hours. There is a fantastic range of 'plug ins' that you can add to the site to do various things.
 
Is Elmwoods Eggsellent Accommodation a go-er then?
Go girl! Well done! Look forward to hearing more, and I know I live a million miles away but if there's anything I can do.... you only need to drop me a line

Best of British!

A x
 
Hi Very good idea toyed with it myself

How will you go about Disenfecting the ground area as using lime requires the be rested for too long to make this viable and other disenfectants just wont do it. also what would happen should you unfortunatly loose any birds would you cover the replacement. Just wondering as this was my main reason for not going ahead..

Good luck all the same..
 
I use BioDri to disinfect the run - my eglu is on slabs anyway so can sweep/jetwash and BioDri it :D

I don't think we used to cover for replacement at the farm if we ever boarded any pets - its a shame but I wouldn't expect a chicken sitter to replace for one of my hens.

I've added a couple of T's & C's - also added about potential risk of foxes.
Have looked after others hens before and not had a problem but its better to be safe.

Also true about the vets - I've never been with one of ours, handy knowing lots of chicken people to ask for help and also knowing vets from work experience :lol: , but would never say no ... just depends on the chicken + what I think is wrong. Others may have different opinion so best to ask.

I made my website with Wix - its free, easy and has templates too.
I'll not try and push it too much, what with being at Uni, but its nice to offer :lol:
 
Hi,


Aileen said:
Is Elmwoods Eggsellent Accommodation a go-er then?
Click to expand...
:-)17
Aileen said:
Happy Hens Hotel ???
Click to expand...


poultrypaddock said:
Hi Very good idea toyed with it myself

How will you go about Disenfecting the ground area as using lime requires the be rested for too long to make this viable and other disenfectants just wont do it. also what would happen should you unfortunatly loose any birds would you cover the replacement. Just wondering as this was my main reason for not going ahead..
Click to expand...

I don't disinfect the ground- (mainly grass) or at least havn't had a need to- my girls free range....
IS THIS SOMETHING I SHOULD BE DOING??? I do wash the patio and the slabs under the girls bench down with diluted dettol, brush it off but not much more than that.

As for replacing birds- goodness only knows. :o
VETS- had considered a disclaimer should any become ill and we feel it necessary for vets treatment/consultation



I am so glad I started this thread. There have been many valid points raised, which has given much more to consider. I am a little worried about guest birds bringing in infection. I am beginning to realise we don't really have enough room to provide adequate quarantine area etc.

However, where theres a will, theres a way...... ;)

TIM & LEWIS- thankyou for your assistance re the building of a web site.
 
Good luck with your venture Emwood, keep us posted as to whether you decide to go ahead. It certainly sounds like there is alot involved. I would be worried about hens becoming ill whilst in my care and also maybe infecting my birds, but I am sure you would love doing it as you are so passionate about chickens. It would be lovely to get paid for doing something you really enjoyed. :-)17
 
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