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PSI’s 2016 State of the Industry Survey results reveal that 85 percent of pet sitters who offer livestock care now offer care for chickens.

As backyard chickens rise in popularity, more chicken owners are faced with the question of who will care for their pets when work or vacation take them away from home. According to Pet Sitters International’s 2016 State of the Industry Survey, more professional pet sitters are providing the pet-care solution.

Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s leading educational association for professional pet sitters, conducts its State of the Industry Survey every two years. It is the most comprehensive survey of its kind for the professional pet-sitting industry.

PSI’s 2016 State of the Industry Survey revealed a sharp increase in chicken sitting. The survey found that 85 percent of PSI member pet sitters who offer livestock care say they offer care for chickens and barnyard fowl—up from 58 percent in 2014. Twenty-six percent of sitters offer livestock care.

PSI member Kathy Jarrell, owner of Southern Paws Pet Sitting in Hendersonville, Tenn., says that chicken ownership is popular in her community.

“I have clients with chickens and it is a fairly simple pet-sitting assignment—I ask each client how they prefer we care for them,” Jarrell explains. “All of my clients have coops and the chickens are allowed to roam in their yards during the day. I collect eggs, provide fresh water and ensure the chickens are back in their coops before dark and protected from predators.”

For some pet sitters like Kim Tank, owner of Apronstrings Pet Sitting in Contra Costa County, Calif., chicken sitting has inspired them to become chicken owners themselves.

“Taking care of clients’ chickens is what inspired me to have my own,” she says. “I’ve had my girls for five years now—and for more than four of those years I was living in the suburbs.”

PSI dedicates a chapter of its Certificate in Professional Pet Sitting Program to addressing the specific pet-care needs of poultry.

“We find that our professional pet sitters adjust and expand their services to meet the needs of their pet-owning clients so we were not surprised at this increase in chicken sitting,” explains Beth Stultz, PSI’s director of marketing and education. “As the backyard chicken movement continues to spread, we’ll likely see the number of pet sitters offering this service increase even more.”

PSI encourages chicken owners—and all pet owners—to only use the services of professional pet sitters for their pet-care needs.

“Often times, pet owners, and even news outlets, use the term ‘pet sitter’ carelessly, referring to anyone—from a family friend to the neighborhood teenager asked to check in on your pet—as a ‘pet sitter,’” says PSI President Patti Moran. “It is important that pet owners understand that pet sitting is a professional career and professional pet sitters offer peace of mind that other pet-care options cannot.”

PSI recommends that pet owners schedule an initial consultation with a potential pet sitter prior to booking services and to ask seven specific questions before selecting a pet-care provider. PSI offers a Pet Sitter Interview checklist on its website to guide pet owners in the interview process.

To learn more about PSI, visit www.petsit.com. To find a local PSI member for chicken sitting or other pet-care services in your area, search PSI’s Pet Sitter Locator at www.petsit.com/locate.