- Jul 8, 2014
- 4
- 1
- 9
Hi all.
I relocated to France 6 months ago and while it had always been our (hubby and mine) intention to get some chickens and ducks, we wanted to wait until we had settled and got our new gites business off the ground. Well, the best laid plans and all that - things didn't quite turn out as planned. A neighbour relocated and I noticed he was not returning to feed or water his various animals. I began visiting his property daily and eventually left him a note asking, diplomatically, if I could buy his animals. He had a think and agreed I could - and this is how, on 6th March 2014, I became "mother" to 2 (what I have been told are) Plymouth Rock chicken, 6 black sex and 1 red sex chickens, 1 drake and 2 ducks, 2 (female) geese and 3 (female) pygmy goats. Only 2-3 weeks later, I discovered that the "neighbour" had obtained over 20 "chickens" and an unknown number of ducks and ducklings. Despite assurances he would seek new homes, he also had 20 or so (?) collared doves kept in a parrot-type cage, one rabbit, one (?) dove and one Bantam cock. It quickly became apparent that the neighbour was again neglecting his animals and I (and a few other neighbours) regularly attended to feed the chickens but the gates to his property were locked and his garden surrounded by a wall over 6' tall. Several of the chickens were so thin that they managed to get through the bars on his gate and I actually had to rescue three chickens from feral cats. It was agreed among the neighbours that such chickens which "escaped" would be cared for and retained by the finder, and only returned to the neighbour if he returned with a gendarme and an animal health worker. The chickens were in a dreadful state - nothing more than feathers and bones. I realised I was no longer able to hear the ducks & ducklings which had been locked in some old hutches and decided to risk prosecution for trespass, and climbed over the wall (and being an overweight 55 year old woman, this was no mean feat!). I was sickened and heartbroken to discover that all the ducks and ducklings were dead in their hutches - and some had been dead for some time. All of the collared doves were dead and heaped in the bottom of their cage. I took photographs as evidence and went, together with a French neighbour to make a formal complaint to the Mayor. I have also publicised this atrocity on Facebook, to a local newspaper, to the French version of the RSPCA and the Department of Health and Animal Welfare. Nothing has happened except such chickens as had not escaped were removed, presumably by the former neighbour, and we don't know what happened to them. I subsequently discovered that this person had allowed over 20 chickens plus a mother pygmy goat and her young kid to starve to death between Easter and Christmas 2013.
This is the background to my current situation. In addition to my initial "family", I took on board another 8 "refugees" - 6 Plymouth Rock and 2 Black Sex, as well as the rabbit, the Bantam cockerel and the (?) dove.
I have only been caring for the new additions for a month or so and my initial understanding that the only cockerel/cock (I don't know the age of the bird) I had was the attractive but aloof Bantam. Initially the Bantam (named Gordon) didn't make a sound although he had been noisy during the 6 months plus period of imprisonment in the small hutch on my neighbour's property. After a week or so, he began to make a sorry sounding croak but has developed a hearty crow which he demonstrates during daylight hours! This morning, to my horror, I realised that I was hearing at least another two "crows" in addition to Gordon's. I cannot be certain, but after looking closely at the birds, there may be two or three cockerels masquerading as chickens! All three are birds which I was told are Plymouth Rock. I obtained some chicken books but they are basic and do not give specific breed information. The suspect birds seem to have a longer neck than the others, and have very yellow legs. Other than these "traits", I don't know what would differentiate male from female.
I have been told that I have sufficient female birds that keeping as many as 4 cock(erel)s will not be a problem, however another friend said I would have to cull the additional males (which I will not do). All are getting on well with one another and the suspect cockerels are giving Gordon a wide berth (as are some of the chickens).
Can anyone please help me to ascertain the sex of the (?) males and advise on how to keep them (will they need separate housing, for example?). All of the "chickens" sleep together at night in two separate purpose built chicken coops, save that the Bantam sleeps in the branches of our large cherry tree.
No-one seems to know what sort of bird the (?) dove actually is. It has the look of a dove, has long wings and tail, is mainly white but does have a small number of "red" markings. The band over the nose is a milky colour.He/she has very red feet however they were in a dreadful state initially as the bird had been walking in its own filth for over six months, and the skin was flaking off and the nails over-long. He/she was terrified initially but is gradually settling in. Can anyone point me in the right direction to find out what type of bird this is, please?
Sorry to have taken up so much space and time, but I preferred that everyone had background information as I am sure there will be some people who feel it was inappropriate of me to take on these animals whilst not having any experience of looking after them. With appropriate care, food, housing etc. I am happy to say that all the animals are doing very well, gaining weight and showing improvement in all avenues.
JackieC
I relocated to France 6 months ago and while it had always been our (hubby and mine) intention to get some chickens and ducks, we wanted to wait until we had settled and got our new gites business off the ground. Well, the best laid plans and all that - things didn't quite turn out as planned. A neighbour relocated and I noticed he was not returning to feed or water his various animals. I began visiting his property daily and eventually left him a note asking, diplomatically, if I could buy his animals. He had a think and agreed I could - and this is how, on 6th March 2014, I became "mother" to 2 (what I have been told are) Plymouth Rock chicken, 6 black sex and 1 red sex chickens, 1 drake and 2 ducks, 2 (female) geese and 3 (female) pygmy goats. Only 2-3 weeks later, I discovered that the "neighbour" had obtained over 20 "chickens" and an unknown number of ducks and ducklings. Despite assurances he would seek new homes, he also had 20 or so (?) collared doves kept in a parrot-type cage, one rabbit, one (?) dove and one Bantam cock. It quickly became apparent that the neighbour was again neglecting his animals and I (and a few other neighbours) regularly attended to feed the chickens but the gates to his property were locked and his garden surrounded by a wall over 6' tall. Several of the chickens were so thin that they managed to get through the bars on his gate and I actually had to rescue three chickens from feral cats. It was agreed among the neighbours that such chickens which "escaped" would be cared for and retained by the finder, and only returned to the neighbour if he returned with a gendarme and an animal health worker. The chickens were in a dreadful state - nothing more than feathers and bones. I realised I was no longer able to hear the ducks & ducklings which had been locked in some old hutches and decided to risk prosecution for trespass, and climbed over the wall (and being an overweight 55 year old woman, this was no mean feat!). I was sickened and heartbroken to discover that all the ducks and ducklings were dead in their hutches - and some had been dead for some time. All of the collared doves were dead and heaped in the bottom of their cage. I took photographs as evidence and went, together with a French neighbour to make a formal complaint to the Mayor. I have also publicised this atrocity on Facebook, to a local newspaper, to the French version of the RSPCA and the Department of Health and Animal Welfare. Nothing has happened except such chickens as had not escaped were removed, presumably by the former neighbour, and we don't know what happened to them. I subsequently discovered that this person had allowed over 20 chickens plus a mother pygmy goat and her young kid to starve to death between Easter and Christmas 2013.
This is the background to my current situation. In addition to my initial "family", I took on board another 8 "refugees" - 6 Plymouth Rock and 2 Black Sex, as well as the rabbit, the Bantam cockerel and the (?) dove.
I have only been caring for the new additions for a month or so and my initial understanding that the only cockerel/cock (I don't know the age of the bird) I had was the attractive but aloof Bantam. Initially the Bantam (named Gordon) didn't make a sound although he had been noisy during the 6 months plus period of imprisonment in the small hutch on my neighbour's property. After a week or so, he began to make a sorry sounding croak but has developed a hearty crow which he demonstrates during daylight hours! This morning, to my horror, I realised that I was hearing at least another two "crows" in addition to Gordon's. I cannot be certain, but after looking closely at the birds, there may be two or three cockerels masquerading as chickens! All three are birds which I was told are Plymouth Rock. I obtained some chicken books but they are basic and do not give specific breed information. The suspect birds seem to have a longer neck than the others, and have very yellow legs. Other than these "traits", I don't know what would differentiate male from female.
I have been told that I have sufficient female birds that keeping as many as 4 cock(erel)s will not be a problem, however another friend said I would have to cull the additional males (which I will not do). All are getting on well with one another and the suspect cockerels are giving Gordon a wide berth (as are some of the chickens).
Can anyone please help me to ascertain the sex of the (?) males and advise on how to keep them (will they need separate housing, for example?). All of the "chickens" sleep together at night in two separate purpose built chicken coops, save that the Bantam sleeps in the branches of our large cherry tree.
No-one seems to know what sort of bird the (?) dove actually is. It has the look of a dove, has long wings and tail, is mainly white but does have a small number of "red" markings. The band over the nose is a milky colour.He/she has very red feet however they were in a dreadful state initially as the bird had been walking in its own filth for over six months, and the skin was flaking off and the nails over-long. He/she was terrified initially but is gradually settling in. Can anyone point me in the right direction to find out what type of bird this is, please?
Sorry to have taken up so much space and time, but I preferred that everyone had background information as I am sure there will be some people who feel it was inappropriate of me to take on these animals whilst not having any experience of looking after them. With appropriate care, food, housing etc. I am happy to say that all the animals are doing very well, gaining weight and showing improvement in all avenues.
JackieC
