Chickens Just Wandered into My Yard.

[MickWithChicks]

Update!

I just got a call from a neighbour about 1km away. The next neighbour to the north recently sold and left. The chickens were his and he abandoned them when he moved about a month ago.

The neighbour who called said that he was offered the chickens but declined as he had no coop nor did he want to care for them (he'd only just moved in a couple of months prior). He also mentioned that he was told they are/were laying chickens, but he hasn't seen any eggs anywhere.

Apparently there were originally 6 of them, and he'd see them free-ranging all over the place. They were roosting at night on a tree in his yard.

Next step is treatment for mites/lice/fleas and a round of antibiotics. Then I'll work on introducing them to the flock.

 

[CSAchook]

Update!

I just got a call from a neighbour about 1km away. The next neighbour to the north recently sold and left. The chickens were his and he abandoned them when he moved about a month ago.

The neighbour who called said that he was offered the chickens but declined as he had no coop nor did he want to care for them (he'd only just moved in a couple of months prior). He also mentioned that he was told they are/were laying chickens, but he hasn't seen any eggs anywhere.

Apparently there were originally 6 of them, and he'd see them free-ranging all over the place. They were roosting at night on a tree in his yard.

Next step is treatment for mites/lice/fleas and a round of antibiotics. Then I'll work on introducing them to the flock.

Oh those poor sweet birds! They are so lucky to have found such a kind and wonderful home with you

 

[rosemarythyme]

Well at least the mystery is solved, though it's sad that the chickens got left behind. Sounds like the previous owner couldn't find someone to take them so left them to fend for themselves. Best of luck in getting them fully healthy and integrated!

 

[featherhead007]

AWESOME story!

 

[aart]

I just got a call from a neighbour about 1km away. The next neighbour to the north recently sold and left. The chickens were his and he abandoned them when he moved about a month ago.

Mystery solved!
Were they one you dropped a note with?
Did the abandoner live in a trailer?

 

[Tesumph]

Well at least now you know.

I have to disagree about dumping pets being because of embarrassment. While that is the case sometimes I’m sure, maybe for a senior who couldn’t handle the care anymore, I think much more often it’s laziness. I’ve worked in rescue and have tried to find homes for strays myself before. It is freaking hard. When one of my dogs and her companion wandered onto my property a few years ago, I spent a MONTH.. calling rescues and trying to put her into one. I got the same answers, either they had no space or were only accepting dogs under 20 pounds. I eventually had to call animal control on the other stray who tried to attack my golden retrievers, and ended up keeping the first one. To this day I have never successfully put a stray into a shelter, dog or cat. They’re just filled to the brim, and ignorant people keep breeding more. If you don’t believe how bad it is, go read the euthanization list at your local shelter. Or if it’s a no-kill, ask how long the animals have been there.

Anyway, doesn’t make dumping an animal right, just sharing the other side of the coin. I’ve talked to people who’ve abandoned their pets. So far they’ve all said the same thing, they couldn’t find a place to put them in time before they moved, or before the “vicious” (untrained) dog mauled their child, or before their 20 unspayed cats had more kittens.

Must get off the soap box before I pop a vein..

 

[featherhead007]

do pop a vein! When you are right, you are right!

 

[MickWithChicks]

Mystery solved!
Were they one you dropped a note with?
Did the abandoner live in a trailer?

They were one of the ones I dropped the note to. I note-dropped three mailboxes and spoke to the direct neighbours on either side of me.

The abandoner didn't live in a trailer. He had the largest property along this stretch of road. Just didn't want to bring them along with him I guess.

@Tesumph The US have it far worse than we do here in Australia when it comes to animals in shelters, so I might be a bit ignorant on the state of the issue there. RSPCA, the largest pro-kill shelter in Australia takes in about 100,000 companion animals (dogs/cats) a year. They're able to re-home or reunite about 75% of dogs and 60% of cats within the reporting year. They do euthanise about 25% of the cats and about 13% of the dogs they receive though.

In the case of laying hens, taking 2 minutes to list them on Facebook or Gumtree for free will have them gone in an hour. Even free roosters go pretty quickly (no doubt to be eaten most of the time). People nab free livestock in this area really quickly.

 

[Tesumph]

They were one of the ones I dropped the note to. I note-dropped three mailboxes and spoke to the direct neighbours on either side of me.

The abandoner didn't live in a trailer. He had the largest property along this stretch of road. Just didn't want to bring them along with him I guess.

@Tesumph The US have it far worse than we do here in Australia when it comes to animals in shelters, so I might be a bit ignorant on the state of the issue there. RSPCA, the largest pro-kill shelter in Australia takes in about 100,000 companion animals (dogs/cats) a year. They're able to re-home or reunite about 75% of dogs and 60% of cats within the reporting year. They do euthanise about 25% of the cats and about 13% of the dogs they receive though.

In the case of laying hens, taking 2 minutes to list them on Facebook or Gumtree for free will have them gone in an hour. Even free roosters go pretty quickly (no doubt to be eaten most of the time). People nab free livestock in this area really quickly.

It’s bad haha. My family is Australian immigrants and you’re right, not as severe over there. These are the current estimations according to the aspca, if you’re curious.
https://www.aspca.org/animal-homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics
The numbers never meant much to me until I worked in it though. Getting attached to a beautiful, healthy, friendly dog that you can’t take in yourself and watching their kill date creep closer and closer. Seeing dozens of dogs killed in one day because there’s just no room. It’s horrifying, really. I can’t even imagine getting a dog from a breeder after seeing the state it’s in, much to my husband’s dislike (he wants a purebred gsd, I’m trying to convince him we could find one in a shelter and don’t need a breeder).

 

[aart]

The abandoner didn't live in a trailer. He had the largest property along this stretch of road. Just didn't want to bring them along with him I guess.

Trailer comment was a weak crack at whoever was bashing 'trailer trash' as prime abandoners earlier in thread.

Glad you've got the problem solved and have some hopefully nice new birds.
Good Work!