I am bummed, I am losing my "farm sitter" tomorrow.

[jlbpooh]

I am bummed out big time. You all know how hard it is to find a good person to watch your animals in your presence. Mine is moving tomorrow. My only other backup person has their house for sale, so I can't plan on them still being here when I need someone. Heck I can't even ask my hubby to watch our animals. I asked him to open everyone up and feed them since I had to go into work REALLY early last Sunday. He did finally open everyone up AFTER it got completely light outside, but he fed no one. He said he forgot. Heck I left the clean goat dishes on the floor right in front of the back door so he had to trip over them to go outside, and he FORGOT to feed them? He loves our animals, but takes NO part of their care.

I have to be gone for 4 days for an out of town wedding in July and will be gone for my one-week-a-year vacation in August. Last year when I was gone on vacation, hubby didn't check to see that gate was closed after the plumber had left. Our dog and the one we were fostering got out and killed the chicken that I had just finished rehabbing for 4 months after he got attacked by dogs at someone else's house, and my duck. The duck disappeared without a trace except for 3 feathers and the chicken died a couple of days later. The foster dog is gone, but now I can't trust my dog around my birds. She had never once made an effort of going after them before this. Dang it. Oh well, thanks for listening.

Now to get the word out about needing a "farm sitter."

 

[ksalvagno]

I hope you can find a new farm sitter soon. I know how frustrating it can be.

 

[Renegade]

I understand what you're going through.

After using the same person for more then 12 yrs I found myself suddenly without a "sitter". No warning just gone.
The next time I took one of my dogs into the vet I spoke to her about it and she told me to give her a few days and she would see if she could find someone. A few hours later she called and said one of the vet techs there wanted to do it. I can tell you as a retired vet tech they do not get paid very well and are always willing to make extra money on the side.
I'm not saying every vet tech is reliable but if you put the word out and pay well enough you should be able to find someone.

Good luck with your search.

Donna

 

[jlbpooh]

That is the worst part. This person cost me NOTHING, would volunteer to do it, and did a phenomenal job too. I would still give him something as a thank you, or buy a gift, a gift card, or something. He never asked for a thing, he said it was fun. He even volunteered to help my husband take care of everything this past summer when I was on vacation just because he wanted to. That was a big relief knowing that my animals were always cared for the way I would care for them. When I first got my goats, he asked when we were going away so he could watch them. He did watch my goats for me when we were gone at Christmas, he even had company, but is eldest daughter and him came over 3 times a day to check on everyone. He LOVES goats and wants some so bad. He had gone through the same goat care instruction class I did last summer since he was planning on getting some. His landlord said he could have whatever he wanted, but his wife made him move to a subdivision instead. He has to find a home for his chickens this weekend too. They were his babies. I am going to ask some of the locals who they use or would trust. There are plenty of people with horses, goats, cows, chickens, etc. that live on my road alone, not to mention the rest of our area. One of my neighbors has to go past our house twice a day to go take care of his own farm, (he has a real farm too, not just a hobby farm, he just doesn't live there) maybe he would be willing to help out the couple of times we will need it.