BE VERY Careful of HOARDER Breeders!!!!

[Lurch]

I have to say, that I have One Pair of Runner Ducks. And, they are quiet compared to the Pekins that I had in the past. The only time they make noise is when I call them. Or if I am hanging around the pen, and they are looking for kibble!
The girl makes more noise, but on the whole, if I'm not back there, they go with the flow.
Again, I don't care about a "duck" kit or anything like that, (advertised) I would want to see the general operation. You don't want people tracking in germs, so from a short distance, I would think people would get the drift of the place by sight....and smell.
And, I have sold chicks and ducklings myself.
But, by the time the people leave they probably felt they were stuck in Chicken Class 101 for an hour.

 

[onthespot]

Notify animal control or the humane society if any animals are being abused or laws broken. Otherwise, just making a broad, blind statement that anyone who keeps chickens in their basement could not possibly be doing right by the birds is VERY unethical on YOUR part.

Have you seen the basement? Have you seen her setup first hand? Are the animals abused and/or unhealthy? Why have you not contacted the authorities yourself? I have more than a couple breeds (9) and I resent the statement that no one can breed more than two breeds responsibly. You don't know me or my breeding practices. You don't know what lengths I go to to acquire the birds I need for my program or what my genetic diversity is or is not. You don't know how my chickens are kept, or how much room they have to roam. I brood chicks in my bedroom. (gasp!) because I can keep a super close eye on them. I live in a residential neighborhood. No roosters allowed. (gasp!) Therefore, I keep my breeding birds in a different city where they are allowed and incubate, brood and rear chicks in the other location. Makes for fantastic biosecurity and genetic redundancy in the event of a loss for whatever reason. I go there every day, or twice a day and take care of them, gather eggs, sit and watch them... do everything in my power to give them the best lives I can. They are in safe, secure, airy, roomy housing. They get free fed top quality food. They have fresh water with redunant backup waters in case theirs tips over. They are secure from predators and from visiting chicken people. How dare anyone say that someone with more than two breeds can't possibly be doing a good job. Shame on whoever said that!

Call the authorities yourself if you feel a chicken or any animal is being abused. Don't come on here and say "The sky is falling, but I'm not going to tell you exactly what, or where, or why, just take my word for it, the sky is falling."

End of rant.

 

[Lurch]

Huh?
Emailed this past user privately - so they can understand more clearly that these animals are being monitered....
Again, there is nothing worse than a "collector".
These ill people feel that they cannot turn down another animal...and it ends up in a mess. That goes for dog mill breeders, people with 80 cats in cages, and all animals to excess - if their quality of life is compromised.
And who said you cannot have multiple breeds? Not I.
I never said indoors was bad either. I never said if you had your fowl inside, it was wrong.....Just keep it sanitary.
I kept the name and location and some information discreet about this person, in keeping with the board rules. It was a general post to beware of hoarders, and see the cleanliness of the place from where you buy.
Maybe it will be a wake up call for the breeder, and I hope she turns her act around.
People can change.
But cuddling a chick in bed, and posting about it, is not cute, while a goose starves outside.

I will not respond to - nor get involved in Post Fighting.

 

[ChicksOnTheDL]

Kathy is right. Anytime you are making any kind of purchase, you should do your research, but especially in the case of live animals you have a responsibility to make sure that the operation is being run properly, or you may wind up unwittingly contributing to something you might not have wished to. And you may wind up with sick birds to boot. The argument is the same as that against puppy mills.
I have gotten chicks from Kathy and she is knowledgeable and responsible. If she says something, it is without a doubt the absolute truth. I would never go anywhere else for my girls, but for those who don't know, her advice could save them a lot of grief.

 

[mtnhomechick]

Good Idea...thanks.

 

[cybercat]

Quote:
I just wish to clarify that I am Not refering to raising chicks or winter housing in a basement. Those are temp conditions and are OK.

 

[hinkjc]

Do NOT SETTLE for someone bringing you eggs or chicks up from a basement.

This thread gives the perception that many breeders are hoarders and I'm sure that is not the case.

As for the part I quoted, you will find many do this to ensure biosecurity and will not give farm tours. Not necessarily a negative thing about a breeder. Some won't even let you come to their farm to reduce risk to their valuable birds. That doesn't make them a bad breeder or mean they're birds are in poor conditions.

I agree with the person who said "report it". If you're aware of animals being mistreated, then you are no better than the person doing it if you sit back and do nothing. Posting it here has done nothing to help those animals.​

 

[camalianus]

Lurch, as someone else wrote already notify animal control, human society or the entity in your state in charge of animal abuse and let them determine if the conditions of the poultry this person is raising are questionables.

You will help greatly this ducks and chicken. If the animals are being abuse they will close this person operation.

 

[Lurch]

When I said "Do not settle for anyone bringing up from a basement " that does not mean (I cannot believe I have to explain this) that a basement is a bad place. I meant that you should be able to see the conditions of where the chicks are housed - as well as the housing of the adults.
I have chicks in my basement, but people are welcome there. I have nothing to hide, and don't just bring up a handful of chicks from a : basement , attic, bedroom, bathroom,... etc etc.

>>>>And from a distance is fine, because of germs......but your sense of smell should tell you what lies beneath. And not that "chickeny" smell..the smell of cocci droppings with that awful putrid odor. A rotten egg in a bator.....it happens.

I have never had a chick become ill from a visitor. But, I run a very small operation, just a few babies at a time. I only sell my chicks to private and loving homes. None of them ever go to a commercial poultry breeder....from my hands.
People have to live and make a living, and a large scale breeder can adore fowl, but I choose not to have anything less than real pets, and all of ours have their own names. Everyone has their choice, (large scale or not) but it's not rocket science to know to keep it sanitary no matter what<<<<

Authorities are already looking into this person - eminating from several sources.
That's all.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Quote:
First, if it's as bad as you say, I wouldn't want to walk into those conditions, because who knows what diseases you'll be carrying out with you.

Second, I don't let anyone* near my setups! People can carry poultry sickness on their shoes, clothes, hands, etc. and I'm not set up to sanitize every person who wants to see my set up.

*I do have two close friends who help me work on poultry pens, but I also know their biosecurity habits. I also know they practice those same habits when they come to my place.

I also don't let people handle chicks when I have them for sale. If someone wants chicks, I hand pick their chicks for them. This is just because I don't know where they (buyer) have been.