[Nina]

Hi - We're looking at having a holiday  this year and would like to have a house-sitter to keep an eye on sheep/cattle/poultry...  And if found someone we liked, maybe use them for odd weekends (i.e. family wedding) if they could look after dogs too... If they had dogs, they could probably bring them (ours live outdoors...) and 10ac to walk them on...

Any ideas as to how to find someone - I know it's been mentioned before but big red words came up about resurrecting old posts!

Or anyone interested?! 

[bloomer]

where abouts are you?

[Nina]

Powys - Just 15 mins over Shropshire border...

[silver swan]

Hi Nina,

Currently housesitting in Devon though my home is in Scotland!!!!

What dates are you looking at?

Perhaps you may like to send me a personal message and I'll get back to you?

Susan

[Tudful Tamworths]

Try Pippa. She comes highly recommended. Experience with all kinds of pets and livestock (pigs, sheep, cattle, poultry, even exotic animals).

http://www.smallholdingsittingservice.co.uk/contact.html

[Pel]

Thanks Liz 

Hi, I've been running my business as a smallholder sitter for the past 2 and a half years, specialising in farms and smallholdings with livestock. I live on the coast in Ceredigion and would be able to come across to you. I have experience with horned and polled cattle, I can hand milk, I can lamb if needed, able to tag/inject cattle/sheep/pigs. I have also looked after dogs, cats, snakes, llamas, african grey parrots. I have worked on organic and non-organic farms.

I have a HND in Agriculture (with countryside management) and I can give you several references if needed.

my email is pippa@smallholdingsittingservice.co.uk (though I think Liz has already given all details needed)

[VSS]

Would happily recommend Pel aswell. She is excellent.

[ellied]

What do these kind of services cost, may I ask?  I'd love a holiday but don't have a lot of spare cash lying about so assumed that wouldn't happen..

[Pel]

It depends what you have, if you write a list of your animals on here if you like, and a brief description of your routine I'll give you a quote.

My prices range from £35 for 24 hours upwards for house, plants and pet sitting.
If you have any livestock including ponies, horses, and over 20 poultry then it would be from £40 a day upwards.
For example:
Client 1; if you have 6 ponies, 12 sheep, 4 dogs, 30 chickens, 6 geese, 10 ducks, 5 cats, 1 sow, 1 boar, 8 growers, plants to water. Morning and evening routine takes an hour each that would be £45 a day plus travel expense

Client 2: 3 horses to let in and out, muck out, feed, water. 2 seperate groups of chickens: let in, let out, feed water. 2 dogs, 1 budgie, 2 kittens, 4 sheep, 1 cow and steer that would also be £45 per day plus travel expense

Client 3: at £45 per day: 2 milking cows (and everything that goes with milking a cow), 2 dogs, 20 poultry and 3 cats.

Client 4 at £40 per day: 21 ewes, 1 ram, 3 ponies, veg plot to manage, polytunnels, fish to feed, water needs to be carried to everything, wild birds to feed (dependant on time of year).

I charge for travel expense, and ask you to provide food for me, or I can provide my own but charge you a little for it (£15 for 3 nights/weekend or £30 for a week). If your close to me (within and hour or near my in-laws in knighton) then I will come and visit you first free of charge to see yourself and your animals, and how you interact with them and how they respond to you. For new clients I come the evening before you leave, so that you can show me the ropes for evening and morning routine, where the food is stored and if you have cows/goats/sheep to milk if you whistle or hum as this may well help them let down. I only charge for the days you are away, so that first evening and morning would be free.

I have a client that goes away for 4+ weeks at a time, in this case I drop my price from their quoted £40 per day to £35 per day.

I also try and only work in Wales and borders now as I have a 1 year old son, though for the odd one a year I could do out of wales.
In general my son comes with me (and if its a busy routine, my mum/dad comes with me to help out, this does not affect the cost of anything). However, if its not possible for him to be with me then my mum and husband look after him.

Hope this has helped. 

[faith0504]

what a fantastic service you offer 

[Pel]

To add i'm fully booked February, March, July. half booked August, April, June. Free all month May.

There is potential that I will be stopping the business for a year from September, but my husband needs to discuss whether he will be getting more teaching work at the uni, if he does then business will be as usual. So at this time, I'm only taking provisional bookings after September (of which I have a few).

[daddymatty82]

wish i had something like this set up

[Pel]

Its not hard to do, as long as you have experience and not too many animals of your own, if you have an OH is she ok with you not being around much  and you dont mind being on your own then your fine. Its easier to setup a business, there is advertising to think about, and what you can charge in your area. For instance where I'm from if i were to charge Monmouthshire/ Wiltshire prices of £60 + a day I would not have any clients, as this is a poor area (in general). There is also the need to have a vehicle, though when I first started out I was still learning to drive and a few clients were happy to pick me up from stations, but its definetly a must for long term plans.
As I am married I could never be full full time, as in working 6 days a week every week (allowing a day of travelling, though in some cases this may need to be more, or if you lucky enough to get a long term then less). Now I have a son, and now the business is successful the husband isn't too keen if I am away for more than 3 weeks a month as he'd never see me.

I know some sitters (one in devon) only does a 12 mile radius and seems to do fine, I can't really see the sitting business as a main income, unless you were single and could guarantee to have a sitting every day of the year, as this way you wouldnt have to rent somewhere of your own permanently.

I love my job and thats all that really matters to me. I get to look after animals, pick up tips on how to design your own holding, meet new people and see new places. Its interesting seeing different behaviours of animals too and how the environment in which they live in affects them.   

Sorry Nina I'm clogging up your thread.

[Nina]

Wow - Thanks for all that info!  Interesting to hear what you do - Though doesn't it make you want your own stock etc?

Anyway - To those who pm'd - I've responded.

And I'll drop you an email Pippa, though I think you'll probably be booked up for when we're looking...

Thanks all! 

[ellied]

I'm in Fife so probably not right for you if you're trying to stay in Wales but thanks for the info.