Vacation dilemma.

Buckhuntr · #1 01/21/14, 09:10 PM

DW and I want to take a week in a few months and visit my family in another State. This will be the first time we've gone anywhere for more than a day since moving to the country and getting farm critters. How do we go about finding someone trustworthy and reliable enough to make sure everybody's fed and watered, and still be alive and on the premises when we return? We don't really know any of the neighbors well enough, plus a couple have a rep for 'scrapping' anything that isn't bolted down.
No relatives that we can depend on either.

Vosey · #2 01/21/14, 09:36 PM

Go by yourself?

Do you know anyone local you can start asking to see if they know anyone?

We're in the same boat, we moved out here 2 years ago and all our trustworthy friends are an hour a way and family a long ways away. I now visit family by myself. We do have good relationships with our 2 neighbors, but I don't fully trust them and we need someone to stay in the house. This summer my whole family is descending on us! And that's only able to happen as my brother has sold his farm (he hasn't travelled in 15 years) and my sister has her son to watch theirs.

KnowOneSpecial · #3 01/21/14, 09:39 PM

Does the local high school have an FFA Chapter? Maybe contact the teacher and explain the dilemma. Maybe the teacher might be able to do it or know of a responsible teen who can do it.

Awnry Abe · #4 01/22/14, 07:38 AM

Building relationships is critical. Not just for vacations and freedom but for dealing with serious downtime/hospital/funerals/weddings/etc. It is an overlooked component of prepping and isn't something that happens overnight.

Once you have those relationships established, you will want to make sure that the amount of chore time and effort is at an absolute minimum. Being handed a long list of instructions is a real PITA. We strive for 1 week of nothing but letting chickens out in the A.M. and closing the door at dusk. Everything else is loaded up with 1 week of feed/water.

SJSFarm · #5 01/22/14, 10:58 AM

I like awnry's comment. I would like to add I advertise for farm/pet sitting. I just worked a farm and the owners listed what needed to be done - color coded by AM/noon/PM care. I didn't find this annoying because it was clear what needed to be done.

When I had to be gone for part of a weekend - the goats just had their kids and the dams hadn't decided which kids they wanted to allow to nurse! I actually took pics of which kids went with which doe- I felt this was making it easier on her- she said she appreciated it and it did make her job easier. Additionally, I mixed what food went with who and labeled each bag - Friday PM - does; Sat AM - does; Fri PM - chickens, ect

I was trying to make it easier on her.

When I worked the farm, I had a list, and there were 2 separate chicken houses, three barns and additional shelters for other livestock. Again the list was very handy, especially with the color coding. Everyone got what they needed. Even when it hit -2 and the pipes froze! Hauling the water from the basement wasn't a big deal- they did leave a hose to use, but I found hauling it was easier since I only had a few who didn't have stock tanks with heaters.

sidepasser · #6 01/22/14, 11:51 AM

Do you use a large animal vet in the area? Ask him/her if he knows anyone who is capable and has experience.

Michael W. Smith · #7 01/22/14, 12:42 PM

Does your area have a local 4H? Find out who the leader is, tell them what would need done, what animals you have, etc. The leader should be able to match up a responsible teen with what would need done.

Determine a fair price and have everything written down. Invite your "new employee" over for a day or two of training - perhaps in the morning if certain chores need done then, as well as in the evening if something else needs done then. Leave your cell phone or phone number where you can be reached in case of any problem.

Once you have taken your trip and come back - determine if the job was done. If you are satisfied with the outcome include a tip with the payment and ask if they would be available for future trips you may take.

Good luck.

fishhead · #8 01/22/14, 02:50 PM

I've used people recommended to me by my vet. I also agree that everything should be written down as plainly as possible.

Ramblin Wreck · #9 01/22/14, 03:30 PM

Another vote for Awnry Abe's advice. I'm blessed with neighbors who are either family or lifelong friends. We all help and depend upon one another, and it makes life so much nicer.

Buckhuntr · #10 01/23/14, 06:36 AM

These are good ideas! Thanks for the input.

Rustaholic · #11 01/23/14, 07:10 AM

I have a pair of horses I take care of whenever the folks go away or just can't be there at chore time. I have been doing this for five years now. So many times they have told me how grateful they are that I am so good and faithful.
Those horses really do love me. They pay me $15 every time I go over there.
That is what they offered. It is about three miles from here and I would have done it for half that. They want to keep me though. One old 29 to 30 year old mini Arabian really has been looking better and better in the last couple years but there are a lot of special things to add to his feed. I have seen it change several times but I stay on top of it. He used to pre-bag each feed now the first time a new feed change is there he just tells me in a text when he asks if I am available and I mix the feed. If I am not available they change their plans. That has only happened once.

Rustaholic · #12 01/23/14, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidepasser

Do you use a large animal vet in the area? Ask him/her if he knows anyone who is capable and has experience.

I like this idea.
Next summer I am going to talk to the vet they use for the horses and the vet I use and see if they will recommend me to folks for farm or critter setting.
I would love to know more horses, goats or cows. I like chickens and bunnies too.
Oh yeah, I also do the hens across the road. Last time my neighbor went away he had someone else he had asked to take care of his 16 hens and rooster. They were flying over the six foot fence and coming over here looking for bugs to eat. I could tell he was gone so I went over there and I could see no food or water there and the ones still in the pen and hen house were really upset. I just fed and watered them, got the rest of the gals back in the pen and since his cell number is on his work truck I called him. Now he lets me know when he is heading out and I take good care of them.