Can you report Neglect?

[Mattemma]

I would want to go back and check things out again before reporting. My snow has started to melt and the chickens are leg deep in the mud.They look horrid after just a half hour outside. I keep food and water in the chicken shed.

 

[terrilhb]

I agree with everyone else. My chickens also like to go out in the rain and get muddy,

I like them to stay clean but no not when it is raining. I also keep their food in the coop. During the winter they waterer goes into the coop. During the summer I have water in coop and in run. At least you care though

 

[SillyChicken]

UMMM... so, when the owner wasn't there, you just helped yourself and went over to the coop? Was someone other than the owner with you, or give you permission to go to the coop? If not, you were tresspassing

I know that's not going to be a popluar comment... but I bet most of you would not want some stranger going over to your coops when you're not home either.

My run and pen area is a horrible muddy mess.. the geese don't help matters. Until things dry up and I can clean up the area, and rework my drainage issues, I'd be totally embarrassed to have anyone go back there.

 

[vfem]

I am just going to say, I know you mean well... but that is a very iffy way to be sure. If you feel they are neglected and you don't want to own a chicken from that scenerio, then by all means don't get one. However, unless you were handling the birds, and they felt thin or weak. If you noticed bugs, mites or glazed eyes you can not be aware of the bird's health. Chickens get dirty... and my do they look horrible after a rain and a muddy run.

There are people with birds living in open shacks that are perfectly healthy.

I for one keep food and water inside my bird's coops in the winter. I always have, and always will. I do not heat so this is how we help with freezing.

My suggestion is let it go, look for chickens from somewhere else... don't feel badly for caring, you meant well, but its probably best to just move on and find something that will work with what you want for your flock.

 

[chickened]

There are two sides to every story, you could be charged with trespassing by admitting you went on the property. Busybody? possibly? The best advice is mind your own business. If this person is neglecting them and continues to sell them this will generate more complaints and ferret out his lack of care. My stepmother has been reported at least once a month for a horse that was pushing 30 years old and looked like crap and the cops would come out and then leave and it has become a nuisance to the cops and the owner. By all rights the horse should be p[ut down, bad teeth and all.

 

[featherz]

My leghorns right now look like dustbuckets - it's due to the vaseline I put on the combs - they spread it everywhere and then dustbathe. If anyone saw them they'd definitely look like dirty little bedraggled chickies!! Oh, and my food and water are inside the coop for the winter.