What should you tell your chicken sitter? A chicken sitting checklist

Feeling a little cooped up, but can’t bear the thought of going on vacation and leaving your feathered family members behind? If only there was an alternative to plucking up the courage to ask your neighbor or family members to step in while you’re away… 

What if we told you that chicken sitters are here to take care of your chicken chums whenever you need a vacay? But before you spread your wings and fly off into the sunset, what should you tell your chicken sitter? From feeding schedules to tips on getting in and out the coop, here’s a rundown of the kind of thing you’ll need to brief them on. 

Chicken sitting checklist

There are things your chicken sitter should know (like the fact that Henrietta makes a run for it every time the coop door opens) and things they shouldn’t (like your five year plan). Make this checklist your own by tailoring it to suit your unique needs and preferences, and take the time to go through each step with your sitter in person, where possible. 

• Supplies: Let your sitter know where to find all the essentials they need during their stay, and be sure to stock up on everything they might require. 
• Water: Ask your chicken sitter to check the water daily to make sure it hasn’t been knocked over, and make sure they know where to find the hose or sink to refresh the water each day. They should also clear out any leaves or debris from the dish. 
• Feeding: Tell your chicken sitter how much to feed your chickens and when, and make sure they have access to wherever you store the feed. Depending on where you live, you might prefer your chickens to be fed little and often to avoid attracting any unwanted guests, like roaches. 
• Treats: Treats can be a great way for sitters to bond with their chicken chums, and kitchen scraps can be used as a tasty snack for feathered friends (you know what they say about one man’s trash being another man’s treasure). Make sure your sitter knows what your chicks can and can’t eat – veggies like lettuce, cucumber, and carrots are ideal, but they should steer clear of potato peels and citrus fruits. 
• Getting in and out of the coop: Advise your chicken sitter to take great care when opening the door to the coop, as some chicks are known to make a dash for the exit! Stress the importance of closing the coop securely and leave them with clear instructions on how to do so. 
• Cleaning the coop: Make sure your chicken sitter knows how to clean the coop and where to find supplies.

• Collecting eggs: One of perks of taking care of chickens? The eggs! Let your sitters know if you’re happy for them to eat the eggs, and if not, how you’d like them to be stored. Tell them to collect eggs each day, plus how many they can eggspect to find.
• Free ranging chickens: Feathered friends are typically let out of the coop to roam in a secure area – just make sure sitters are clear on where to let them loose. 
• Keeping an eye on chickens: Fill your chicken sitters in on behavioral quirks – an inexperienced sitter might worry about a chicken wiggling about in the dirt if they don’t know that dust bathing is completely normal. They should know that a healthy chicken will move around quite quickly with their wings glued to their sides, whereas a sick chick might spend a lot of time standing in one place, with wings and eyes half open. 
• Security checks: Ask your sitter to check for signs of predators trying to break in and take a head count each day to make sure no one’s been led astray. You may need to provide your sitter with a flashlight to make it easier for them to check the coop after dark. If there are any severe weather conditions on their way to you (including heatwaves or extremely cold periods), prepare your chicken sitter for any extra care they might need to provide your chicks with. 
• Keeping things sanitary: Tell sitters to give their hands a good wash before and after working with your chicks to prevent the spread of disease, and provide them with rubber gloves and a pair of gum boots or old shoes to protect their feet. 
• Emergency preparations: If one of your chickens gets injured or sick, tell your sitter to separate them from the rest of the flock. They should be given the contact details of your veterinarian and a friend or family member who lives in the area, and will also need access to an emergency first aid kit. 
  

So if you’re a pet parent with a flock of chicken chums, keep this checklist handy for the next time you go away. With these instructions plus a year-long membership to TrustedHousesitters, your worries about finding a caretaker for your chickens will become a thing of the past.