Chicken stolen

[Chippychick123]

So one of my chickens got out and I called the local shelter and they said we can’t have it back basically then tried to get our address to find our other hens (*we have no roosters) but many articles online permitted them. I’m just so angry is there a way I could get her back?

 

[NNYchick]

What was their reasoning for not giving her back?

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

I don't know your ordinance, but most shelters make you pay a fine and then they return your animal. Is this a first offense?

 

[Diana_burns04]

I'm sorry !

 

[Peepsi]

So one of my chickens got out and I called the local shelter and they said we can’t have it back basically then tried to get our address to find our other hens (*we have no roosters) but many articles online permitted them. I’m just so angry is there a way I could get her back?

Unfortunately, this is the price for not containing your flock.

I assume you live in a somewhat urban area and one of your neighbors had to deal with an unwanted chicken in their yard? If so, then yes, this is the sort of thing that happens. Usually people do not appreciate unwanted animals in their yard, giving them "presents" to pick up and dispose of (I only say this because we have neighbors that let their cats run loose, and they are always in our yard pooping, and we absolutely trap them and call animal control). So if you do live in the city or suburbs, build an enclosed run that your chickens cannot get out of.

However, if you live in a rural farm area, where everyone lets their chickens run free on large swaths of acreage, then I would ask animal control why they are not giving your chicken back, or how they even got in the first place.

Good luck!

 

[The Moonshiner]

Unfortunately, this is the price for not containing your flock.
Good luck!

IDK anywhere where it's legal to keep chickens and this is the price for one escaping.
Accidents happen and one shouldn't have no recourse in getting their bird back. Thats ridiculous.
Sounds like OP left out some details. Sounds like poultry isn't allowed where they live.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

IDK anywhere where it's legal to keep chickens and this is the price for one escaping.
Accidents happen and one shouldn't have no recourse in getting their bird back. Thats ridiculous.
Sounds like OP left out some details. Sounds like poultry isn't allowed where they live.

I agree a lot of unanswered questions. I acquired 3 silkie chicks some girl through my daughter work had to get rid of immediately.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I’m just so angry is there a way I could get her back?

Find you county or city ordinance or talk to code enforcement.

Are you legally allowed to own chickens? Adding your general location to your profile can help folks make the best suggestions possible at a glance.

For example... if you are in Southern California... maybe they won't give the chicken back due to the New Castle outbreak, mandatory quarantine and euthanasia that just took place!

Most of us on here do advocate for chickens... as well as being a good neighbor and responsible law abiding citizens. We also know that accidents happen.

Hope this resolves quickly for you.

 

[Peepsi]

IDK anywhere where it's legal to keep chickens and this is the price for one escaping.
Accidents happen and one shouldn't have no recourse in getting their bird back. Thats ridiculous.
Sounds like OP left out some details. Sounds like poultry isn't allowed where they live.

That's a good point. I never even thought that the OP might not have even been allowed to have chickens, as I always assume that people would check the laws in their city first to see if they could have chickens where they live.

I know that's the first step I took, even before doing any research about chickens. I wanted to make sure that I could have chickens legally where I lived.

So yeah, that could definitely be a factor (and is probably what actually happened...thank you for pointing that out). The other possibility is that animal control took the chicken and wouldn't give it back, unless they paid a fine (and the op did not want to pay).

Either way, there is a lot missing from the story.

I merely commented from my point view as a person who is always removing unwanted free-roaming pets from my yard (despite my having a fence around my property). Our neighbors are highly irresponsible and let their pets roam free to poop in other people's yards, and frankly, it bugs me. I can keep their dogs out with my fence, but their cats merely jump my fence and harass my chickens (they are in the coop/run, but the cats will literally climb the hardware cloth trying to get at the chickens, which they cannot, but it still spooks the chickens).

My chickens are well contained and they do not get out, period. Even if there was an accident and my chickens got out, I would not expect anyone to return any of them, as it was 100% my fault that they escaped. I believe in personal responsibility, and if an accident happens due to my negligence, I own up to it and take the consequences.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Ya I'd be guessing if they truly won't return the bird then it's because they're not legal in that area.
Sometimes people get misleading or strategic with leaving certain things out when posting so hard to understand exactly whats going on.
Even this title is misleading.
Unfortunately a lot don't check laws or restrictions. Seems odd not to to some of us but others decide they want something and go ahead and get them either not knowing or knowing and not caring.
Even with a secured run I believe accidents can happen. Chickens can be fast. I've had escapes myself and the kids have it happen at times.
I think animal control understands that and although fines are usually in order I don't believe they would go to the extent of saying no there's no way to get your bird/pet back. Story doesn't make sense as told.