I wanted to share some info to warn anyone that may be interested in purchasing chickens from a local seller. There's an ad on Seattle CL for "BBS English Orpingtons" in Covington. I sent my sister to pick up a new rooster for me yesterday because I was stuck at the oncologist. From what I was told by both sides she didn't really handle the rooster herself, the seller sent her daughter to get him and bring him to the car. I paid $20 for this guy.
First off, he was not what she had represented in the ad or her emails to me. I thought I was purchasing a "6mo old splash cockerel with beautiful clear white/gray plumage but was later told that she "sold the others and this was all she had left" but didn't bother telling me that. Hes was overloaded with Red Mites, lethargic and didn't try to fight me no matter where I touched or how I held him. He gorged himself on food after my sister fed him. hes severely underweight with a protruding breastbone that's rubbed raw. bald across his belly and missing most of the feathers on his chest as well and whats not missing is broken to stubs. Probably from trying to chew the mites away. His feet are the worst ive ever seen on any bird, It pained me to even see them because I know it must hurt.
When I emailed her about all of the issues with this birds, told her I was appalled and she should be ashamed for offering animals in such condition for sale let alone taking money for one. She wrote me back and insisted she had treated him with ivomec a week prior and shot him with penicillin for his feet, all of which was very apparently not true. She continued to tell me that his poor weight and feather condition was because he was the main rooster to 5 hens.
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Anyone with any sense and knowledge of keeping chickens would know what nonsense all of the above is. Ive always used ivomec for my birds and any sign of bugs is gone by the following day in my experience, even in severe infestations. My previous rooster(recently lost to a very bold bobcat) managed 18 hens alone and was maybe even overweight, with only morning feedings and free range. My birds coop admittedly gets pretty muddy at times but I have never in my life seen a bird with such horrible bumble foot. It's disgusting.
I felt I HAD to share this because only God knows how many peoples flocks shes already put in harms way by selling these sick animals & I just don't want it to continue. I have filed a complaint with animal control regarding the situation.
These are the pics I took after I got home and saw the poor guy.
So exhausted he just buried his head in my arm to sleep.
I, too, bought BBS Orpington chicks in response to that very same ad. Thankfully I quarantined them before introducing them to my flock because they ended up being very sick and I had to cull them. They looked 'off' when I bought them but I was told 'it's just because they're young. Those bald/crusty spots will go away.' Thankfully the rest of my flock is healthy thanks to quarantining them. The conditions were deplorable. Someone came with me to pick them up and said we should report them (which I didn't. Should have though). Mud and feces everywhere, indoors and outside. Not a blade of grass in sight or a mud-free zone anywhere. It was so sad. My gut said don't buy them but I felt sorry for the birds so I did. Never again. Always trust your gut, lol!
