okay, I know this has been asked before, but I would like some help with ideas. We are going away for a week for Christmas and asked a neighbor kids to stop by and care for our animals, 6 sheep, 2 ducks, and some chickens. doesn't take much care, just letting chix out & throwing hay to sheep in morning and putting in chix and feeding all at night and of course water. he actually drives right by everyday as it is, so he doesn't have to go out of his way at all. I have no idea how much to pay him. I manage to do it all in about 30 minutes total. he can have all the eggs of course, although that i guess is more for his family. i just don't have any idea how much to pay him. :shrug:
Animal care while we are away
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I used to pay $30.00 per day for someone to visit a dog, 2 cats and a rabbit.
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We just came back (couple weeks ago) from a week vacation. The neighbor farmer watered 5 coops while we were gone. We paid him $10 a day..he wouldn't take more.
I'd suggest timing how long it takes to do the work you want done. Then pay the kid $10 per hour (don't tell him it's per hour....just a set fee). since it's twice a day, i'd say a minimum of $20 a day unless you're in a really depressed area.
A lot of "how muchto pay" depends on if you want the kid to A, do a good job, and B. do you want to ask him again?
I'd suggest timing how long it takes to do the work you want done. Then pay the kid $10 per hour (don't tell him it's per hour....just a set fee). since it's twice a day, i'd say a minimum of $20 a day unless you're in a really depressed area.
A lot of "how muchto pay" depends on if you want the kid to A, do a good job, and B. do you want to ask him again?
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Professional pet sitters generally charge $12-$20 per visit, depending on the time, number of animals, and travel distance. I say "professional" because most of the one's I know (me included) carry insurance for their profession so the cost is a bit more.
For just a neighbor, I'd offer $10-15.
For just a neighbor, I'd offer $10-15.
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We would pay $30 a day to have a (bonded) pet sitter come twice a day. We have two dogs, four cats, a tortoise, a handful of rabbits, a handful of ducks, and a lot of rats. (And an incubator with quail eggs.)
Of course, I did realize when I was explaining everything to the pet-sitter that what might take me two minutes to do could easily take them ten. I am intimately familiar with where everything is, what is the fastest way to do it, and so on. Doing stuff that is reflex for me requires thought and more time for someone else. Just something to consider if you are planning on basing the cost on the time spent.
Kayleigh
Of course, I did realize when I was explaining everything to the pet-sitter that what might take me two minutes to do could easily take them ten. I am intimately familiar with where everything is, what is the fastest way to do it, and so on. Doing stuff that is reflex for me requires thought and more time for someone else. Just something to consider if you are planning on basing the cost on the time spent.
Kayleigh
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In addition to my post above, professional pet sitters do get extra on holidays.
When we lived up in Indpls., 5 years ago, we had to give $11.00 a visit,
for 3 visits a day, with our 2, well trained, in-door Dobermans.
The lady from "Care Takers" came in for about 30 minutes to an hour each time. She took very good care of them. And the house was kept in good shape for the 2 weeks we were gone. It was well worth the money to us.
I'm sure it would be much higher now.
for 3 visits a day, with our 2, well trained, in-door Dobermans.
The lady from "Care Takers" came in for about 30 minutes to an hour each time. She took very good care of them. And the house was kept in good shape for the 2 weeks we were gone. It was well worth the money to us.
I'm sure it would be much higher now.
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We pay our caretaker $30.00/day to come twice a day and feed our goats, give hay when needed, let chickens in and out (and feed) and rake the barn areas (the does every day, the bucks/wethers every other day)
Man, at $30 a day, I see the basis for a good summertime home biz!
We do it with our neighbor by barter.
No records are kept.
They feed our animals while we are gone and provide us with lots of garden produce and my DH provides them with lots of labor to cut some of their own wood, plus gives them a couple cords of wood from our property.
No records are kept.
They feed our animals while we are gone and provide us with lots of garden produce and my DH provides them with lots of labor to cut some of their own wood, plus gives them a couple cords of wood from our property.
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Just curious how you all work that out to a mere 2 trips per day for indoor dogs? That is a heck of a long time to expect a dog to "hold it". 
Maybe my dogs are spoiled, but mine go out at least FOUR times a day.
In Ontario, most sitters charge closer to $20 per trip (up to an hour). Anything less would hardly pay for the gas and travel (for out-of-towners). I've considered getting into farm sitting part-time, and that is generally $50-60 a day, depending on number of animals.
Maybe my dogs are spoiled, but mine go out at least FOUR times a day. In Ontario, most sitters charge closer to $20 per trip (up to an hour). Anything less would hardly pay for the gas and travel (for out-of-towners). I've considered getting into farm sitting part-time, and that is generally $50-60 a day, depending on number of animals.
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During regular life...the dogs are out in the house with us all day and run around and tell us when they want to go out. Sometimes it is only twice a day, when they have the option to go out fifteen times. (And sometimes it is fifteen times, but not because they need to go to the bathroom.) So I don't think it is asking too much of them when they do it willingly.Just curious how you all work that out to a mere 2 trips per day for indoor dogs? That is a heck of a long time to expect a dog to "hold it".
In Ontario, most sitters charge closer to $20 per trip (up to an hour). Anything less would hardly pay for the gas and travel (for out-of-towners). I've considered getting into farm sitting part-time, and that is generally $50-60 a day, depending on number of animals.
Most pet-sitters I have hired also have a 9-5 job that they work. So they are available in the morning, and in the evening. Heck, plenty of pet owners work 9-5 jobs and their dogs survive. Our dogs are old enough to be able to hold it (they aren't wee puppies) and they don't have any medical conditions that would cause more frequent urination. They do just fine.
These are also usually very short-term situations. I can't afford to pay a pet sitter for a two-week trip. (I can't afford the trip either, and I'd rather stay home.) Most dogs would be more comfortable in their home going out twice a day than being in an unfamiliar setting going out a couple more times.
Kayleigh
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I would pay $30 a day and not count on things being taken care of like I would.
Thats the reason we don't have Livestock now and never left when we did.
big rockpile
Thats the reason we don't have Livestock now and never left when we did.
big rockpile
Just curious how you all work that out to a mere 2 trips per day for indoor dogs? That is a heck of a long time to expect a dog to "hold it".
In Ontario, most sitters charge closer to $20 per trip (up to an hour). Anything less would hardly pay for the gas and travel (for out-of-towners). I've considered getting into farm sitting part-time, and that is generally $50-60 a day, depending on number of animals.
Our doggies can hold it a long time. The three of them are in all night (about 9 hours), let out in the morning, then if the weather is bad they are brough back in for the day (another 9 hours). I'm counting now: we let them out when we get up, out when we come homes from work and sometimes out one more time before bed; sometimes not. That's three, max.
DW is more softhearted than me, and so they hit her up to go out a lot more times when she in in the mood where she will jump up and serve them. I am convincing her, though, in the times when she is fed up to just let it slide and be the dominant dog in her own home. She is finding that it works.
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