Grrr... this is why I feel like I can't leave the house

Great idea, and include pictures.

We buy in bulk and store in 55 gallon drums. There is a 2x6 rail at the perfect height behind the row of barrels. On there I write what it is, and how much for each pasture (by description of animals) for a maintenance feeding. All my son (s) have to do is grab a bucket, walk down the aisle, and scoop according to pasture. (well, it's a little more complicated than that but you get the gist).

When we are away we will write out special additional feedstuffs for pregnant, nursing, sick, whatever animals and prepare the doses if possible ahead of time. Somtimes I have to give a full description or ear tag number to make sure they get the right one.

HF

It sounds like someone is having a bad day. I can recommend a book for you; http://www.amazon.com/Really-Need-Kn...5726280&sr=1-1
Maybe if you read it you'll cheer up and feel better.

Matt, we all sympathize. I broke my arm recently and the circus that ensued with me right here would have been comic if I wasn't so frustrated.

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A ship in the harbor may be safe, but that's not what ships are built for

I send my relief milker an email with full instructions. I print it out and put it on a clip board on the wall in the milk house. I label each feed bin. I put a label with complete instructions on the buckets that the feed goes in.

So far, so good.

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Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus

Relief milker? What's that?! We just don't go anywhere. If we go to town on errands, we make sure we're back by feeding time in the late afternoon, let alone milking time at night.

Horses, goats, cats, chickens, pet pigeon and dog. We're two legged servants, faithfully catering to their every whim! We'd have to write a book and offer an online study course for anyone to qualify to work here...

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When we went to Disney world a year ago I had my dad take care of my animals. I write out a detailed list with everyone's name and breed on it and where they are one the property,I also label each food container with how much every one gets. I get ready to return home and my dad calls and says "your dogs can whistle now." huh?? Trying to imagine what the heck he is talking about I asked him to elaborate. He said he made a mistake, he said he fed the dog the parrot food by mistake. The parrot food is bright neon colors like intense looking fruity pebbles and there are birds all over the bag. How do you mix that up with dog food??!
So naturally I said what did you feed the birds? Chicken food. In his eyes parrots and chicken are both birds so why not. The birds were not impressed! How ever the dogs were thrilled to get the forbidden bird food for an entire week. They also had neon colored poop! I laughed out loud when he told me but I found another house sitter that pays more attention!

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http://silvercreek-farm.blogspot.com
Livin' the good life

I know it is so hard to feel you can fully instruct someone in how to care for ones pets and livestock. I cared for a neighbors goat for 12 days twice a day milking and all that, I think they were satisfied...though they did say she looked a little skinner then she was before, but that that was ok they said they thought she was too fat before.
Now the only thing different from with what they had written was baking soda and my goat minerals (she got into my girls dish and helped herself), oh and a sore on her head where she kept headbutting the fence between her, my girls, and the boys.

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The more I know people … the more I respect animals.
Lovn Ivy Farm
http://lovnivy.webs.com/

I totally agree, Otter. Jeez. Get a grip.

I can certainly understand frustraton when someone doesn't do something right with care for critters - and trust me alot of times written instructions and 3 days of walk trhoughs do not help. BUt, like someone else said, put yourself in the other person's place. They really were trying to to help. I don't keep medicated feed and if I do- it is in the house separate from other feed- by the chicks I am raising. I keep a check list with details on it- on the fridge. But even with the best instructions and labeling- mistakes can happen- heck just last week I didn;t get home till after dark. I fed the rabbits goat pellets by mistake and did not realize it until I went to the goat barn and saw I had rabbit feed in the bucket. The rabbits were not real happy- but they ate it by next day with no issue. I am sure the goat would have ate the rabbit pellets (which would not have harmed them as I feed a alfalfa based pellet with probiotics). The goats have nibbled at the layer feed before (unmedicated) when they got into the coop while I was feeding and tried to eat rabbit pellets out of the rabbit feeders. The turkeys steal rabbit pellets if they get a chance. I don't have dog food- I feed raw, so no worry about mix up there. So basically everything can eat anything here without harm....except the dogs eating chicken or goat feed would cause them some issues temporarily because of the corn. Only times I have had major issues with someone was when they failed to follow a highlighted instruction (like when someone failed to separate dogs for feeding and then left while they were eating and I came home to a dog with a torn lip because another dog grabbed food out of its mouth) or they tried to hide something or failed to water. Everything else I will talk about. I have had good help and bad help and help that started out good and then got lazy. Try to make it so it is as simple as possible- try to simplify things so if something does happen that you cannot be there- it will not be a major undertaking for someone to provide at least basic care. Write out detailed instructions, but not a book- trust me- they will not read it all if it is too much. Make it in a check list form- even if it seems common sense. Mine includes- rabbits- 1 blue scoop of rabbit feed each, water rabbits, goats- hay goats with amount, feed goats and specific amount- split between feeders, dump and fill both goat water buckets, etc. If you have specific animals that need to be treated differently- note thier markings, collar color and/or ear tag #- people do not know sex For instance- I have 2 dogs that are excape artist that have to be on the trolley to potty- they are in a crate when I leave since they also open doors. I note their crate location and color of the dog and that they have a collar (only ones that wear collars at all times). I also have one page of where spare things are located- for instance extra rabbit bottles and tops, emergency supplies, minerals, etc. so they can refer to it if needed. On that same page is a vets number that does house calls and a back up vet....just in case first does not answer. I have a 3rd page for what ifs- where to place an animal that is not acting right or is lame or thier enclosure is compromised, what to do for bloat, etc. That way if I cannot be reached they have the answers they need and I know when I get home that there is an issue that needs dealt with.

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Willowynd Collies
"A breeder is at once an artist and a scientist. It takes an artist to envision and to recognize excellence, and a scientist to build what the artist's eye desires."

This made me laugh out loud. Never had pigs before but have a couple feeders now tilling up my garden over the winter. I have a little Togg/Nubian girl in the back of my barn by herself at night because her horns are banded. The other night I had a nightmare that I left the backdoor to the shed open and those nasty pigs came in and ate her alive! I had to run out to the barn at 2 AM even though it was 15 degrees outside and blowing eheh... I'll be glad when those piggies are in the freezer!

I guess I'm lucky, I just didn't realize how much. My granddaughters (8 and 12) love to get off the bus at my house when I'm home. They also enjoy helping me do the chores and milk. When we are gone, they replace me perfectly. Thanks girls.