Dumping Chickens on Our Property - What to do?

[splashie]

Just curious, what do you all do when someone keeps dumping chickens on your property?

Maybe no one else has this problem, but we sure do.

Someone dumped 2 New Hampshire Reds off sometime today, one has a really bad neck injury, you can see the spine. But it's running around like nothing is wrong.

I'm also concerned that our birds could catch something from these birds since I don't know their history.

We don't have a free pen available at this time to put them in.

Any advice?

This is like the 3rd time this month someone has dumped chickens here. The other 2 times we had pens available and we ended up finding homes for them.

I'm thinking of putting signs around our property to scare people off.

 

[jenjscott]

Put out a sign

Public notice 256e9 pursuant to HR 2735

BIOSECURITY MEASURES IN EFFECT!

All abandoned or unattended stray animals
will be shot on sight.

 

[splashie]

I was thinking along the same lines, but it might scare my neighbors! Our neighbors who live near by already think that were crazy, but they are always there to help us in a jam.

Do you think that if any authorities road by they would stop and give us a hard time?

 

[MaggieRae]

Wow that's weird... But I have to admit, there are worse problems to have.

At least your chickens aren't dissappearing!!!

 

[Debi214]

I would be slightly suspicious that it is the same person dropping them off on different days to throw you off.........maybe someone moving in the neighborhood.

 

[MoodyChicken]

Quote:
Great idea! My biggest concern about a dumped animal would definitley be diseaeses. I would, sadly, cull any bird that was dumped at my house. I would love to keep it, but just wouldn't for the safety of my birds. I'd feel so badly for the unwanted little buggers though.

 

[splashie]

lol - good point MaggieRae, although last year we had hunters on the government property that butts up against ours and they called our Toms over there while we were at work and shot them, breasted them and left their bodies for us to find.

Boy, I was fit to be tied, and we found out who it was, it was a father and a young son. I left them a note in their mailbox that read:

Please, if your hungry, next time please knock on our door, we will be glad to feed you. It was not necessary to kill our pet Turkeys".

Now we keep them penned all the time, we are scared to let our Toms out again.

 

[Polish Chickens]

Don't kill them I'd recommend finding a good enough box to put them in and quarantine the new birds

 

[splashie]

We believe it might be someone down the hill (mountain), we only have 9 neighbors (pretty rural) and only one of them has chickens (we gave them 6 RIRs).

I am also really worried about the diseases, we work so hard to keep our birds clean and healthy.

I feel sorry for the birds, but yet, I have to protect my own.

I agree, that it might be the same person. Someone dropped of a Blue Slate Turkey Hen too...

We will see if we can catch these two hens. Right now our geese keep chasing them to the back of the property.

 

[heyeddah]

I agree with quarentine and then maybe you will be lucky enough to increase your flock for free. I believe in things happening for a reason.
Tough call though. I wonder why they are dropping off at your place. You must care for your own birds very well and they think you will be able to help.