- Jul 26, 2013
- 16
- 0
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Sharpsburg is Western Maryland to me, I'm in harford county
MARYLAND THREAD!
- Thread starter ChuckenGirl
- Start date
Hello fellow Marylanders! I haven't been on this forum for quite some time. I came across a situation that I do not know what to do about. I'm hoping someone can advise me. Right now I don't know if I should be concerned or get involved so I'd like to ask for answers and/or opinions.
My mom lives in another state and is in poor health. I travel down to see her as often as possible. It's a long drive - almost 9 hrs. so I try to visit her every couple of months. In May I noticed the neighbor children jumping around and laughing at something in the alley behind our houses. (For time's sake I'm going to refer to my mom's home as ours) These 2 boys had a stick and were poking something. I went back to the alley to find 4 young ducklings in a wire cage. The boys ran off when they saw me, of course and I realized they had been poking the ducklings. The cage is about the size of a medium-sized dog crate but the home made type with no bottom or top, just entirely wire. There wasn't much room for the ducklings and the water and feed bowls had been turned over. I couldn't reach the owners at that time and never saw anyone taking care of the ducklings although I'm sure they belong to the house where the backyard butts up to that alley. I figured the ducklings at that time were about 4 to 6 weeks old but that was a guess. Later when I saw the little boys playing outside I tried to find out more about the ducklings, owner and teach the boys how to be kind. I doubt they cared or listened. On July 21st I returned back to my mom's. I was shocked to see the ducks still in the small cage, still sitting out in the alley. Now these ducks are quite abit larger. The cage is way too small. There is no place anywhere for them to swim. Luckily the alley is well shaded so they're not sitting out in the hot sun. The little boys next door are still going down and terrorizing those ducks. Evidently the owner of the ducks works days and is not home. I've heard this owner has grand children and that is why he first bought these ducks. I'm very concerned for the welfare of these 4 ducks. I thought ducks needed somewhere to swim, even if just for a short time every day. I can't understand why the owner has not found them a new home or built/accrued a bigger and more appropriate pen. I hate to think of a dog or other animal attacking during the day. There is very little protection in a wire cage. At night the cage and ducks are carried inside a metal garage/building. I imagine it's very hot in there as there are no windows or fans. When I tried to talk to the owner about the condition he's keeping these ducks in, he became belligerent and down-right mean. He told me to mind my own business and slammed the door shut in my face. I called the local animal shelter and was told that only one agent patrols the whole county and that abused, neglected, sick dogs and cats kept him overly busy. Unless several neighbors made complaints about the ducks, nothing would be done. I have my own flock of chickens at home. They're very well cared for. I don't know much about ducks but I'm pretty sure they need more than they have. Don't ducks need water to swim in every day? I'm pretty busy with the demands of my 80 year old mom when I'm there but it makes me sick to see those poor ducks in that horrible small cage. I've tried to get our neighbors to call and complain. No one wants to get involved. I can't even get the next door neighbor to curb her cruel children! I asked her to please watch them when they were down in the alley, that they tortured the poor ducks in the cage back there and was told it would be better if those ducks died! Does anyone have some useful advice? My next visit will be in late September. I'm dreading what I might find. I can't bring the ducks home with me. The drive is very hard and long and I travel back and forth with two dogs that would love to get a hold of such noisy toys! I don't know any place to take the ducks there where my mom lives. I'm not sure they would survive if I took them to a lake or pond and turned them loose. I doubt they've ever been turned out of that cage - I've never seen them out. Those two boys that are so mean seem to notice every time I go down to the alley - and I'm sure they'd tell on me if I took the ducks away. I don't need that nasty owner charging me with theft. It seems I am the only one that cares what happens.
My mom lives in another state and is in poor health. I travel down to see her as often as possible. It's a long drive - almost 9 hrs. so I try to visit her every couple of months. In May I noticed the neighbor children jumping around and laughing at something in the alley behind our houses. (For time's sake I'm going to refer to my mom's home as ours) These 2 boys had a stick and were poking something. I went back to the alley to find 4 young ducklings in a wire cage. The boys ran off when they saw me, of course and I realized they had been poking the ducklings. The cage is about the size of a medium-sized dog crate but the home made type with no bottom or top, just entirely wire. There wasn't much room for the ducklings and the water and feed bowls had been turned over. I couldn't reach the owners at that time and never saw anyone taking care of the ducklings although I'm sure they belong to the house where the backyard butts up to that alley. I figured the ducklings at that time were about 4 to 6 weeks old but that was a guess. Later when I saw the little boys playing outside I tried to find out more about the ducklings, owner and teach the boys how to be kind. I doubt they cared or listened. On July 21st I returned back to my mom's. I was shocked to see the ducks still in the small cage, still sitting out in the alley. Now these ducks are quite abit larger. The cage is way too small. There is no place anywhere for them to swim. Luckily the alley is well shaded so they're not sitting out in the hot sun. The little boys next door are still going down and terrorizing those ducks. Evidently the owner of the ducks works days and is not home. I've heard this owner has grand children and that is why he first bought these ducks. I'm very concerned for the welfare of these 4 ducks. I thought ducks needed somewhere to swim, even if just for a short time every day. I can't understand why the owner has not found them a new home or built/accrued a bigger and more appropriate pen. I hate to think of a dog or other animal attacking during the day. There is very little protection in a wire cage. At night the cage and ducks are carried inside a metal garage/building. I imagine it's very hot in there as there are no windows or fans. When I tried to talk to the owner about the condition he's keeping these ducks in, he became belligerent and down-right mean. He told me to mind my own business and slammed the door shut in my face. I called the local animal shelter and was told that only one agent patrols the whole county and that abused, neglected, sick dogs and cats kept him overly busy. Unless several neighbors made complaints about the ducks, nothing would be done. I have my own flock of chickens at home. They're very well cared for. I don't know much about ducks but I'm pretty sure they need more than they have. Don't ducks need water to swim in every day? I'm pretty busy with the demands of my 80 year old mom when I'm there but it makes me sick to see those poor ducks in that horrible small cage. I've tried to get our neighbors to call and complain. No one wants to get involved. I can't even get the next door neighbor to curb her cruel children! I asked her to please watch them when they were down in the alley, that they tortured the poor ducks in the cage back there and was told it would be better if those ducks died! Does anyone have some useful advice? My next visit will be in late September. I'm dreading what I might find. I can't bring the ducks home with me. The drive is very hard and long and I travel back and forth with two dogs that would love to get a hold of such noisy toys! I don't know any place to take the ducks there where my mom lives. I'm not sure they would survive if I took them to a lake or pond and turned them loose. I doubt they've ever been turned out of that cage - I've never seen them out. Those two boys that are so mean seem to notice every time I go down to the alley - and I'm sure they'd tell on me if I took the ducks away. I don't need that nasty owner charging me with theft. It seems I am the only one that cares what happens.
Ducks do not need to swim, but do need enough water to clean their bills with every so often. Regarding the conditions and such I have no solution. I do not care for my poultry that way, but then again maybe he cares for them well after work, gives them a deep water bowl and such in the garage, keeps them out of the garage during the day because it is hot, just too many unknown variables. The boys on the other hand, seems they are a definite problem.
Not worth taking from him, regardless if the care is inadequate, if you take something that is not yours, you are stealing and it sounds like too many people would likely suspect you with the conversations you have already had.
Sad situation.
Not worth taking from him, regardless if the care is inadequate, if you take something that is not yours, you are stealing and it sounds like too many people would likely suspect you with the conversations you have already had.
Sad situation.
Sad situation.
You cannot take the ducks. But it does sound like the ducks need better care. The housing in inadequate from your description, and they need a clean bowl of water to rinse their beaks in or they can choke on the food. The poking of the ducks is just cruel. You can call animal control, and while they might not take the birds, they can talk to the owner and the boys about proper care and watch the situation.
You cannot take the ducks. But it does sound like the ducks need better care. The housing in inadequate from your description, and they need a clean bowl of water to rinse their beaks in or they can choke on the food. The poking of the ducks is just cruel. You can call animal control, and while they might not take the birds, they can talk to the owner and the boys about proper care and watch the situation.
- Jul 22, 2013
- 1
- 0
- 6
Wise are those who learn that the bottom line doesn't always have to be their top priority.
William Arthur Ward
vet oro valley
seo scottsdale
best restaurants in albuquerque
William Arthur Ward
vet oro valley
seo scottsdale
best restaurants in albuquerque
I'm a newbie from Maryland- checking in from Gambrill Park area in Frederick County. Just received my first flock this week- 13 chicks, 5 days old today. All appear happy and healthy so far. Yay! Very excited
Congrats & Welcome to BYC!
I am just across the line in VA.
I am just across the line in VA.
Last edited:
Welcome to BYC from your neighbor in Carroll County!
Welcome from another Frederick Countian 
- Feb 22, 2013
- 111
- 2
- 78
I just chased out a fox. I woke up to chicken screams. There is only 1 torn up body I saw my shy girl run off but it looks like I only have two in the coop. 4 are completely missing.
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