County Fair and animal cruelty!!!

[speckledhen]

I realize that folks don't think about chickens the way most of us do. That really isn't the point. Even a meat bird I intend to slaughter will be cared for properly and will never suffer beyond the limits of his genetics (eating himself to death, leg issues, etc).

 

[Hoosiermomma]

All county fairs have 'boards' just like in 4h. I would contact the board members and complain. I am not sure how animal care at the county level works but at the 4H level the kids and parents make sure all animals have food and water. Most of the kids hang around the animals the whole week and are on hand whenever they need something. I can't believe the owners of the animals didn't care enough about them to make sure they had food and water. Also we have some stainless steel silver cups that are attached to the sides of the cages. They are about the size of a ramekin cup only deeper. Did they have adequate ventilation and air flow via fans?
I wish I would have been there b/c the news crew would have had one heck of a story on their hands!

 

[SarahFair]

I would have found someone above her and reported it to them. I would tell them I was going to call animal control if something wasnt done.
People may have brought there chickens there but its not possible to stay with them at all times.

If I were leaving my birds there I would put trust in the staff to water and feed them as needed and care for them. After all...isnt that what they are there for?

 

[ksacres]

Ok, on the flip side of this, having been a 4-Her, let me tell you my experience.

When exhibiting at the fair, I made rounds pretty much all day, every day. I did draft horses, sheep, pigs, poultry, and dairy goats, not to mention collections, maple syrup, dog obedience, consumer fashion, and vet science. Every animal was checked about every two to four hours. And I can't tell you how many times there was some irate observer that couldn't understand why the pig didn't have water (spilled it), or why the chickens didn't have feed (scratched it all out).

So, in short, while it may have appeared that they hadn't gotten food/water/care/whatever, it may just be that they spilled it, and the owner hadn't gotten back to it yet. I was VERY VERY busy at the fair every year, but my animals never went more than four hours without being checked on.

I guess my point is, don't be so quick to judge, since no one here knows the whole story.

 

[SarahFair]

Quote:
Good point.
But if ALL the chickens are in this shape I think there is some neglect going on...

Chickens are silly little things though. Ill put my chicks water and food in and they have filled it with so much mulch they can not access it. ...and thats in the first 10 mins of it being in there

 

[JessaLynn]

There was fans in the barn.Some blowing on the poor things at full force 24/7 with no way to escape it. Wether the birds are just used as production or meat it shouldn't matter.We have about 100 birds for production and show and couldn't imagine treating them second to none just because of that.They deserve to be treated well no matter what.You shouldn't have ANY if you can't provide basic necessities.I hate when I get told their just chickens!

Well your just human does that give me the right to treat you like crap?? Like owell just another chicken.I must just be crazy then and have compassion for ALL living creatures.Those chickens supply us with the food we need for goodness sakes and rememeber your eating that so take care of it properly!! I'm not a tree hugger just have respect for what God has created for us.I live by treat others how you would want to be treated no matter big or small.

 

[gypsy2621]

Ok I admit I got a little snipey, ok ok a lot snipey. so lets try this and now I am being kind. had more coffee the world is ggod now.

Lets stop and breathe for a second.
Could the woman possibly have been over whelmed doingthis job, where there any other exhibitors or people standing around watching this one woman do all the work?
tell me this please,'
If you were running around trying to fill coop cup with water on a very hot day and someone walked up to yuou and started throwing a level 10 how would you react.
keep in mind temperature, tempers , ehaustion, fraxxles, possible pms etc etc keep all this in mind before you answer.
I would trust you being the only one working you can off and everyone else standing there, you or anyone of us ( me especially) would be ready to hand someone their head in a coop cup.
These people do the best they can and if no one volunteers to help out well its all on that ONE person.

Unless you have been in the situation of having to care for other peoples animals at such an event I wouldnt be so quick to judge her reaction to anyone harping on her.
What I would have done and have done many times in the past is
ASK the woman does she want or need help. I know many woould definately take the offered help gladley over being chewed out.

 

[vicki2x2]

It may be different at different fairs, but at ours, we have one club "on duty" at all times. That probably was the lady you saw. They are in charge of watering the animals, making sure there are no problems, answering questions for people, keeping the public out of the cages and if there are problems, notifying the owners or the superintendents or both.

If I had been in this situation, if I didn't get anywhere with the person in the barn, I would have found a superintendent, a fair board member, went to the fair office etc. and told them what was going on. Made sure they were serious worried and on top of things or if I saw no response, let them know I was going to Animal Control for cruelty issues.

 

[JessaLynn]

Sorry but bashing that woman wasn't my intention but that's why I was polite with her at all times because I'm understanding of having a bad day and know how I get when I'm overwhelmed.I never chewed her out or said anything that would in my opinion upset her. I did help her so getting upset with me shouldn't have been an issue at all.She had another guy that was helping her so she wasn't alone.There wasn't anyone just sitting around.Getting water for them isn't that difficult

I just think if you knowingly see an animal struggling to fit it's head in a cup to get a drink, wouldn't you try and do something?? There wasn't many feed cups in the cages at all either.Wether or not that they had food/water at that moment,alot were sick looking no matter what that's on the owners part no question! We were there for 4 hrs and kept going back to check on them and I did say something to my sons 4H advisor before I left and she was going to have someone on top of it. Still contacting the board to make sure though.

 

[jbowyer01]

Quote:
It still does not make it right! No animal whether it is used for food or for a pet should be neglected or abused. I know many individuals that have meat birds and they dont neglect them. NO EXCUSE!