Well, here we go again. I left very clear instructions on my listing and on my Welcome Guide about care of my chickens, and how to rescue them, and my latest house sitter found one had got out of the enclosure. He did not make much effort to rescue it and get it back, and of course she never came back, obviously taken by a fox. His message to me explained this and ended with “So be prepared, you have now 5 chickens instead of 6”. I phoned him to try make him understand that he had to check the fence, possibly add a bit of netting, but he told me that in his view, housesitting should not be so demanding. Then he run out of straw for the nests, but never even mentioned it, while I could have had some brought to the henhouse by a friend in no time without any trouble for him. So in the middle of winter, the hens were more or less sleeping on bare boards. One of my cat needs chemotherapy for cancer, and just could’nt tell me if he was taking his medication or not. “More or less” was the best answer I got. He obviously did not refer much to the Welcome Guide, which was printed and on the dining table. Thankfully he was succeeded by a very nice HS who promptly sorted out the hay problem and keeps in touch every day. But how should I review? He had very good reviews in the past. Are my expectations really unreasonable ? As HS ourselves, we do expect to deal with minor crisis. And I’m starting to think that reviews are really unreliable. Or I’m too optimistic and don’t read between the lines ?
Did you have a chance to speak to him before you offered the sit and did he have chicken or high-need experience? He could have had brilliant reviews for straight forward short ‘just watch the automatic feeder’ sits and it sounds like you need something more self reliable and hands on (there are plenty of us out there).
Do your chickens escape a lot? I ask, because you’ve mentioned two sits when that’s happened and if there’s netting or such that you can add, as you mentioned asking the second sitter to do, I’m not clear why you wouldn’t have already done that yourself.
And with running out of straw, isn’t that predictable and avoidable by supplying enough straw for each sitter ahead of time, even if that means you’ve prearranged a delivery or such?
I mention the above, because even diligent sitters should be set up for success by hosts. And that’s not to say you had diligent sitters.
Many thanks to you both. Good points. The fence had just been completely renewed, I have no idea how a chick could escape. And I think the chap just did’nt find the hay bags, he did not refer much to the Guide Book. He more or less told me when leaving that he did’nt like chickens much. Not sure why he applied. I simply won’t leave any review. Anyway, all good now, the HS who took the relay is very diligent (good word!) Thanks again.
I was gutted when an hen died whilst I was on a non THS sit. Contacted the owner who explained that they were rescue hens and as age was not necessarily known would die unexpectedly. Still hated losing one on my watch but at least they’d had a good 2nd life with the owner and were very well cared for.
Couldn’t imagine not caring for folks pets or livestock in a careless manner.