Guilt at turning down adoptions

[ChickInDelight]

Someone brought me 2 chickens yesterday - to keep or hold until the person was more settled.

I showed her I only really had room for my 4. She said I could keep them anyway. They would roost in a tree, and after all, my ducks usually sleep in the fenced yard and have not yet been nabbed by a predator.

Then, when I looked closer, they appeared to have sand in their eyes. One had toes that appeared to have been broken on 2 feet and did not heal correctly. I told her that looking at that chicken would make me feel sad.

Also, my biggest concern was that taking in these strange chickens might spread disease to my own small flock - that I had already decided not to increase.

Still, I feel guilty because I think these chickens would have been very happy in my yard.

 

[darkmatter]

I practice bio-security. When a neighbor "gave" me his surplus Roos (4), he seemed a little miffed when later that afternoon I had the BBQ going with his chickens. No way was I going to add his unknowns to my dual purpose mutts.

 

[duck walk]

I would not feel guilty about that...you can not risk introducing a potential medical problem to your birds...I have had to do similar things in the past...I no longer bring home adult birds from outside my flock...bio security is really important...you would feel a lot worse if you took them and they dropped a deadly bug on your current group...

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
Your guilt would turn to anguish if those birds introduced a disease to your small flock as you mentioned. I recommend that you quarantine them for at least 30 days. This will give you time to inspect them thoroughly and/or giving time for a respiratory disease to expose itself, giving you time to treat or cull. Dont feel guilty when it comes to chickens.,,,gotta protect your own first and foremost.

 

[ChickInDelight]

Thanks guys. I feel better.

I definately do NOT have the facilities to take in strange adoptions. My present 4 are my very first. I haven't even face my first problem yet. I am still in chic-a-uphoria.

Actually, it was after reading this forum about quarentining and disinfecting after new poulty contact running through my head that made my heart turn them away. I am learning.