Chook Boarding

[Tallulah]

I know this may have been asked before but does anyone know of anywhere you can take your chooks to board whilst you are away on holiday? :? I actually run a boarding cattery in Cornwall but we are closing (hopefully) whilst away for 2 weeks in Jan/Feb and I dont fancy leaving my 5 ex-bats to cope with a pet sitter popping in twice daily especially in the winter months as they are used to us being here all the time and would also be vulnerable to predators methinks. Any help would be much appreciated

 

[Tallulah]

Just to say that since posting my question last night I have managed to find a solution to my boarding problem - a local smallholding that sells chickens just a mile away from us has agreed to board my girls in their barn - I'm so relieved, as my precious girlies will be in such good hands. I can now think about booking our trip in January

For anyone facing the same dilemma - always try contacting your local chicken farm/smallholding (if you have one) and just ask... you never know

 

[dawn]

I know what you mean, it's always a worry. We're off on holiday later today, and I''m lucky that a neighbour who has kept chickens for years looks after mine and I believe her when she says she loves doing it. I still don't like to ask too often though, and worry about silly things like them missing having someone there all the time. And that's with them being in safer hands than mine, as she's the first person I go to if I'm worried about them anyway.

Why don't you open your own chookery though. Bet there's plenty of business. I was trying to persuade my local cattery to do that this morning when I dropped the cats off as she keeps chickens too.

 

[Tallulah]

Dont tempt me cos I'd love to! Sensibly though we dont really have the room/time. My own 5 girls live in the courtyard and are protected on 3 sides by the cattery - my husband has built a fence across the front and they are completely happy scratching around on the small stones and providing entainment for the boarded guests as well as us Not forgetting our own 10 guinea pigs and a rabbit plus numerous boarded guests of the small animal variety as well, we'd have to take on staff if we increased any further and we dont want to do that!

 

[foxy]

Just a word of caution regarding boarding chooks, it can be an ideal way to unwittingly introduce disease into a flock, as seemingly healthy birds might be carriers of diseases like Myco, IB and Mareks.

 

[Tim]

Yes, I think that's the biggest problem as foxy suggests - chooks will be stressed in a move / new environment and are more likely to pick up disease / disorders at this time.

Although thinking about it, you're at a much lower risk with Ex Bats because they will have had a large number of vaccinations.. and I guess we put our birds through similar if not worse stress by showing them!

It will be far less stressful for them than a pet sitter forgetting to give them food or water one day anyway!

 

[Tallulah]

That's a very good point (Foxy & Tim) I shall remember that - but as you say Tim, these are ex-bats vaccinated up to the hilt. I think that after what those poor girls have experienced in their short lives that a short journey and stay in a quiet corner of a barn normally put aside for broody hens is justified under my circumstances and a much safer option whilst we are not around.