DS has been asked to look after chickens - what would be an appropriate charge?

[Pumpkintopf]

Hi all,
My DS has been asked to care for a neighbours chooks for a few months (they are moving house/renovating). The chickens will live in our garden (so there would be no travelling necessary for him) in an Omlet tractor/run, which I will help him move once a week. He will obviously have to check food/water daily, collect any eggs (they don't lay many!) and clean them out weekly. She has offered £5 a week for this. I feel this is a bit low- it seems like a fair bit of work for not much reward - what do you think?? Thanks.

Would your lawn not get damaged?

Its a big space and i'll move the run regularly to give the grass a chance to recover.

If he gets to keep/eat the eggs surely that is part of the 'payment'?

Ooh sounds a bit of a nightmare! When I was young I looked after my friends hamster, it escaped and my dog killed it, I am still traumatised to this day I looked after her rabbit at the same time, it spent a fortnight peeing all over me every time I tried to put it back in its hutch. 500 quid a week would not be enough for me to risk that drama again fresh eggs are fab though!

caketinrosie yes I can see how you'd want to steer well clear after that experience!

He could sell the eggs :-) chickens are no work really, does he want to look after them? if not then maybe they would be better rehoming them.

Sounds too low. That is going to be a 2 - 3 hour job per week.

It should be £10 - 15 plus the eggs.

Whats the going rate for a paper round at the moment?

When we go away my chicken sitter charges £25 a week to look after mine but this includes accommodation in a huge run and coop. We provide our own food and she saves the eggs for us. Does your son want to do it?

Not enough. Even if you move the run, your lawn and possibly other parts of the garden will be damaged. The grass wont recover quickly at this time of year so you need to factor this in to the "fee".

Also if it is for several months there will supplies to buy so who is paying for these. And possible vet fees if they get ill......

How old is your son and is it a "perk" to him to be allowed to look after chickens?

My DS's would be so excited it wouldn't occur to them to ask for payment. Although I think that would wear off if it was for months on end

Thanks all. He does want to do it, and said he would do it for nothing. I just didn't want to feel he was being taken advantage of. They will supply food and any other necessaries, and deal with any vets bills etc.

How old is ds?

Brian he's 10.

I think they could offer a little more really. Maybe £10 plus the eggs. They would be paying a lot more elsewhere.

True, by the sounds of it £10 would be cheap. I'll obviously be supervising him closely! Thanks for all the advice everyone.

She's trying it on - especially as, being 10, he'll need some supervision.

Given that it's going to be 3 or 4 hours a week, I'd suggest £10 per week to your son (it's a lot of money when you're 10) and £10 to you for supervision / buggering of law.

*lawn, not law!

Thanks Frederick - lol at buggering of law!

I pay £8 a day for a chicken-sitter.

I would have thought it's going to be 15 mins a day plus 1-2 hours a week , i.e. at least 3 hours a week.

I think £15 a week would be fair.