Chicken Sitting Checklist 🐔
Everything Your Chicken Sitter Needs While You’re on Holiday
Heading off on a well-deserved break? ✈️ Don’t forget to make sure your feathered friends are well looked after while you’re away!
Whether you’ve got a neighbor, friend, or family member stopping by to care for your chooks, having a clear and simple chicken sitting checklist can make their job easy—and give you peace of mind while you're relaxing on holiday.
Here’s everything your chicken sitter needs to know to keep your flock happy, healthy, and egg-laying until you return.
📝 Chicken Sitting Checklist
🐓 1. Daily Chicken Care Tasks
These are the basic tasks that need to be done every day:
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✅ Let chickens out in the morning (if not using an automatic door)
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✅ Check food and top up as needed
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✅ Refill waterers (fresh, clean water daily is essential)
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✅ Collect eggs
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✅ Close the coop at night to protect from predators (unless automatic door is installed)
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✅ Quick health check – observe if anyone looks sick, injured, or “off”
🥚 2. Egg Collection Instructions
Let your sitter know:
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Where to place collected eggs (fridge? egg basket?)
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What to do with dirty or cracked eggs
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If they’re allowed to keep the eggs (a great thank-you bonus!)
🍽️ 3. Feeding Instructions
Be clear about:
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Type of feed (pellets, crumbles, mixed grain?)
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How much to feed (e.g. “fill the feeder every 2–3 days” or “scoop 1 cup per chicken daily”)
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Any treats allowed (sunflower seeds, veggie scraps, mealworms, etc.)
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Where feed is stored and how to keep it safe from rodents
💧 4. Watering Instructions
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Show them where the water containers are and how to refill them
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Let them know how to clean them if they get dirty or slimy
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If using nipple drinkers or gravity waterers, do a quick demo
🛏️ 5. Bedding & Coop Cleanliness
If you’ll be away for more than a few days, ask your sitter to:
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Check for wet or poopy spots in the coop and spot clean if needed
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Know where to find extra bedding/straw/shavings
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Add a scoop of bedding if it starts to get messy
If you’re gone less than a week and your coop is clean, you may be fine skipping this.
🐥 6. Health & Safety Tips
Let them know how to:
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Identify signs of illness or injury (lethargy, limping, pale combs)
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Quarantine a sick chicken (if needed)
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Contact your preferred vet or poultry expert in case of emergency
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Handle broody hens, if you have any
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Keep an eye out for predators or signs of trouble (foxes, rats, dogs)
Leave a note with:
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Vet name & number
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Your contact info
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A backup contact (just in case)
🚪 7. Coop & Run Access
Make sure your sitter knows:
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How to lock/unlock the coop and run gates
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Where to find keys or codes if needed
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If you have automatic doors, how to check they’re working
🧹 8. Where to Find Supplies
Provide clear directions to:
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Feed bins
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Extra bedding
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Grit or oyster shell
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Cleaning tools
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First aid kit (if you have one)
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Egg cartons or baskets
🐾 9. Optional Extras (If They’re Willing)
These aren’t essential, but if your sitter is keen:
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Offer scratch grains or treats in the afternoon
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Let them know how to let the chickens free range safely
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Clean out nest boxes if they get messy
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Show them where your chickens like to dust bathe
✍️ Printable Chicken Sitter Info Sheet
It’s a good idea to leave your sitter with a printed care sheet with all the info above. Here's what to include:
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Your name & contact info
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Emergency contact (vet or poultry-savvy friend)
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Daily checklist
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Feed & water instructions
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Where to find supplies
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Any chicken names (and personalities, if you're feeling extra!)
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Any known health issues or quirks
🎁 Say Thanks!
Your chicken sitter is doing you a big favour—whether it's daily visits or just popping by a few times while you’re away. A little thank-you goes a long way:
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A carton of fresh eggs
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A small gift or treat from your trip
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A thank-you note or text
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Offering to return the favour when they go away!
🧡 Final Thoughts
With a little preparation, your chickens can stay happy, healthy, and well-cared for while you're off relaxing, exploring, or just taking a break from daily chores. A clear chicken sitting checklist takes the guesswork out for your sitter and ensures nothing gets missed.
Now go enjoy your holiday—you’ve earned it! 🏖️🐔
Have your chickens ever had a sitter? What did you include in your care instructions? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear your tips!
– The Chook Manor Team
