Consultations, Coops, Chickens, and Flock Maintenance
Want us to help figure out the best way to design your coop or manage your flock? Please send us an email at TheChickeness@gmail.com to schedule a consultation, and we'll take it from there!
Education
We offer Yardbirds' "Backyard Chickens 101" seminars and classes that involve a lecture overview of everything you need to know to keep your own chickens, plus a Q&A discussion AND a chance to meet a few of our Chicken Ambassadors in person where possible. Topics include candid discussion of basic chicken info, housing and setup, feeds and daily care, illness and disease, laws and neighbors, breeds, and an endgame plan, plus come with course materials and an official Course Completion Certificate which can be helpful for the permitting process in some towns. Seminars and classes are perfect for your organization, festival, skill-share, small group, garden club, or extended education program. And we offer kids' programs too!
The listed times are based on our experience of what seems to work well, but are fully adjustable to fit your needs. Please email TheChickeness at gmail dot com to check availability and schedule seminars and classes with The Chickeness and Yardbirds Backyard Chickens. Please note that cost may vary slightly by location - for the below rates we are currently able to travel within 1.5 hours of Granby, MA. If you are farther away let us know and we'll see what we can do! And if you're willing to cover travel costs I'll come give a presentation almost literally ANYWHERE. :D
1. Yardbirds Backyard Chickens 101 class for 1-30 people (more directly interactive)
$150 for 1.5-2 hours for up to 30 people. Includes a 45 minute lecture presentation plus 30 minutes-1 hour for questions and discussion followed by a hands-on introduction to our Chicken Ambassadors.
2. Yardbirds Backyard Chickens 101 seminar for 30-500 people (less directly interactive)
$200-400* for 2 hours for 30-500 people (*cost accounts for add'l course materials, depending on expected number of attendees). Includes a 45 minute-1 hour lecture plus 30 minutes-1 hour for questions and discussion followed by a chance to meet our Chicken Ambassadors in person.
3. YBC kids! for 1-25 kids, ages 1-10. Older kids might find the YBC 101 class a bit more interesting - if you're not sure, just ask!
$125 for a half-hour program. Includes guidance on how to prep the kids for our visit before we get there, a 15-20 minute Q&A with their own questions, and a chance for everyone to pet one of our Ambassadors in a controlled setting.
The listed times are based on our experience of what seems to work well, but are fully adjustable to fit your needs. Please email TheChickeness at gmail dot com to check availability and schedule seminars and classes with The Chickeness and Yardbirds Backyard Chickens. Please note that cost may vary slightly by location - for the below rates we are currently able to travel within 1.5 hours of Granby, MA. If you are farther away let us know and we'll see what we can do! And if you're willing to cover travel costs I'll come give a presentation almost literally ANYWHERE. :D
1. Yardbirds Backyard Chickens 101 class for 1-30 people (more directly interactive)
$150 for 1.5-2 hours for up to 30 people. Includes a 45 minute lecture presentation plus 30 minutes-1 hour for questions and discussion followed by a hands-on introduction to our Chicken Ambassadors.
2. Yardbirds Backyard Chickens 101 seminar for 30-500 people (less directly interactive)
$200-400* for 2 hours for 30-500 people (*cost accounts for add'l course materials, depending on expected number of attendees). Includes a 45 minute-1 hour lecture plus 30 minutes-1 hour for questions and discussion followed by a chance to meet our Chicken Ambassadors in person.
3. YBC kids! for 1-25 kids, ages 1-10. Older kids might find the YBC 101 class a bit more interesting - if you're not sure, just ask!
$125 for a half-hour program. Includes guidance on how to prep the kids for our visit before we get there, a 15-20 minute Q&A with their own questions, and a chance for everyone to pet one of our Ambassadors in a controlled setting.
Consultation rates
Unlimited phone and email consultation is included with all other higher-level services!
REMOTE CONSULTATIONS:
Our initial phone or email consultation with a new client is always free!
Follow-up phone or email consultations - $25 minimum requested donation for remote assistance
ON-SITE CONSULTATIONS:
Initial on-site consultation - $150 for an initial on-site design and planning consultation visit (generally takes 1-2 hrs)
Follow-up consultations - $100/hr for subsequent on-site consultations for flock health and behavior or coop design consultations
COOP AND FLOCK CARE: Currently available within 30min of Granby, MA OR Northampton, MA
Coop cleaning visit - $50/visit or $25/visit when added to chicken sitting (below)). Includes removal of old bedding in the coop, replacement with fresh pine shavings, some minor tilling of the run as needed, and a check-over for any minor maintenance issues (loose joints or wires, signs of predator or pest issues, etc).
Flock health-and-wellness check up* - $100/visit for up to 10 birds or $75/visit when added to chicken sitting (below). Recommended at least once a year, ideally in the Fall. Includes an assessment of overall flock health and behavior, a thorough check-over of each bird for any signs of parasites or other issues, plus nail and beak trimming as needed.
Deworming* (with Wazine) - $35/treatment (two visits, ~24 hrs apart) or $15/treatment when added to chicken sitting (2 days minimum). YBC recommends deworming once every year or two in the fall, preferably when your birds are molting. It is very strongly suggested that you throw away all eggs for 2-4 weeks after deworming treatments, to give the medication time to work its way back out of your birds' systems.
Deworming* (with Ivermectin) - $35/visit plus $5/bird or $15 plus $5/bird when added to chicken sitting OR $15 plus $2/bird when added to a full flock health check (since I'm already catching every bird anyway!).
*NOTE While I have extensive animal husbandry experience, I am NOT a veterinarian and there is only so much I can or will do - if you have a bird that is sick in a way that is not easily treated at home I will strongly recommend you take it to a vet.
REMOTE CONSULTATIONS:
Our initial phone or email consultation with a new client is always free!
Follow-up phone or email consultations - $25 minimum requested donation for remote assistance
ON-SITE CONSULTATIONS:
Initial on-site consultation - $150 for an initial on-site design and planning consultation visit (generally takes 1-2 hrs)
Follow-up consultations - $100/hr for subsequent on-site consultations for flock health and behavior or coop design consultations
COOP AND FLOCK CARE: Currently available within 30min of Granby, MA OR Northampton, MA
Coop cleaning visit - $50/visit or $25/visit when added to chicken sitting (below)). Includes removal of old bedding in the coop, replacement with fresh pine shavings, some minor tilling of the run as needed, and a check-over for any minor maintenance issues (loose joints or wires, signs of predator or pest issues, etc).
Flock health-and-wellness check up* - $100/visit for up to 10 birds or $75/visit when added to chicken sitting (below). Recommended at least once a year, ideally in the Fall. Includes an assessment of overall flock health and behavior, a thorough check-over of each bird for any signs of parasites or other issues, plus nail and beak trimming as needed.
Deworming* (with Wazine) - $35/treatment (two visits, ~24 hrs apart) or $15/treatment when added to chicken sitting (2 days minimum). YBC recommends deworming once every year or two in the fall, preferably when your birds are molting. It is very strongly suggested that you throw away all eggs for 2-4 weeks after deworming treatments, to give the medication time to work its way back out of your birds' systems.
Deworming* (with Ivermectin) - $35/visit plus $5/bird or $15 plus $5/bird when added to chicken sitting OR $15 plus $2/bird when added to a full flock health check (since I'm already catching every bird anyway!).
*NOTE While I have extensive animal husbandry experience, I am NOT a veterinarian and there is only so much I can or will do - if you have a bird that is sick in a way that is not easily treated at home I will strongly recommend you take it to a vet.
Pet sitting at your home or farm
(Currently available within 1.5 hrs of Granby, MA for weekends or 45min of Northampton, MA during the week, schedule permitting)
The Chickeness, Khrysti Smyth Barry, is an insured and bonded petsitter with over 35 years of experience (pet sitting and training was my first job at the tender age of 6 years old!), including 4 years as a veterinary technician. She is experienced with just about any critter you may have, including dogs, cats, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, aquarium fish, exotics, horses, livestock - you name it, she's worked with it! Many glowing references are available upon request.
The Chickeness charges $75/night* for one pet plus $15 for each additional pet (your flock of up to 10 birds counts as one additional pet). Please schedule visits by email at The Chickeness at gmail dot com.
Khrysti is happy to administer medications, care for "special needs" pets, or take care of flocks larger than 10 birds - please include a detailed description of your setup and what care is required in your email and we can determine if a rate increase is necessary to account for the additional tasks.
*Visits that don't involve an extended stay are logistically challenging for us at the moment, so we don't prefer to offer those services at this time. If you need dog-walking or an occasional check-in for your flock or other pets while you're out of town we would be glad to provide some recommendations.
The Chickeness, Khrysti Smyth Barry, is an insured and bonded petsitter with over 35 years of experience (pet sitting and training was my first job at the tender age of 6 years old!), including 4 years as a veterinary technician. She is experienced with just about any critter you may have, including dogs, cats, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, aquarium fish, exotics, horses, livestock - you name it, she's worked with it! Many glowing references are available upon request.
The Chickeness charges $75/night* for one pet plus $15 for each additional pet (your flock of up to 10 birds counts as one additional pet). Please schedule visits by email at The Chickeness at gmail dot com.
Khrysti is happy to administer medications, care for "special needs" pets, or take care of flocks larger than 10 birds - please include a detailed description of your setup and what care is required in your email and we can determine if a rate increase is necessary to account for the additional tasks.
*Visits that don't involve an extended stay are logistically challenging for us at the moment, so we don't prefer to offer those services at this time. If you need dog-walking or an occasional check-in for your flock or other pets while you're out of town we would be glad to provide some recommendations.
