hatchery issues

[rls77]

Today I picked up 2 chicks from a local hatchery. I had pre-paid for them last week. All I can say is I was beyond disgusted and appalled at the conditions that I have seen. I actually cried when I drove away. I did not even want to go through with bringing them home for fear of making my flock sick but I could not bare the thought of leaving them there. I have not been able to get these images or feelings out of my head all day. And being Saturday the city is not open to call and inquire if anything can be done in the first place. I do not know who I can or even if I can report the hatchery to try to ensure those poor chicks and new chicks that come in have a better start in life.
Some of the things I saw:
* no access to food or water. They looked like and they acted like they had not been fed or watered for a bit. They were going crazy when the doors opened and they ran out of the shed. None of them were in the brooders (unless they were dead) they were all open. About 100 give or take were just running around in the small shed.
* dead chickens in brooders smashed into the bottoms or in the corners. These birds were fully feathered. Maybe 10-13 weeks.
*dead day old chicks? smashed into the bottom of the shed floor...
* no ventilation the smell was horrible.
* A lot of the chicks had completely bare backs like they had been pecked to the skin.

The child who got the chicks for me had no shoes on. Walking into this shed stepping on dead chicks and feces.


Any advise? Should I just contact the hatchery and communicate this with them or do I make a complaint (which I hope I can, like I said I do not know the laws)? Thanks for any feedback.


I apologize if this is not the place to post such a post but I am at a loss of what to do about this.

 

[N F C]

What a horrible experience, conditions like that are totally unacceptable.

You do need to report it but I wouldn't bother talking to the hatchery, they are the ones that caused this mess and continue to live with it.

I would start with animal control in your area. Tell them what you saw, tell them to send someone out to investigate, rescue the birds they can, cite the owners, whatever else they can do. Keep on them until they DO something.

You can also call the health department. That place is a breeding ground for disease and health menace.

What about child welfare? Was this hatchery at someone's home where children reside? They are putting children's health at risk if they are allowing them to walk barefoot through this nightmare.

Those are 3 places I can think of to start with. Don't let any of them brush you off, keep pressing the issue.

How did you hear of this place, through the newspaper, Craigslist, word of mouth? Maybe you could save someone else from what you went through by sharing some feedback about the place.

(You did put those 2 new chicks in quarantine before they come close to your birds, right?)

 

[rls77]

What a horrible experience, conditions like that are totally unacceptable.

You do need to report it but I wouldn't bother talking to the hatchery, they are the ones that caused this mess and continue to live with it.

I would start with animal control in your area. Tell them what you saw, tell them to send someone out to investigate, rescue the birds they can, cite the owners, whatever else they can do. Keep on them until they DO something.

You can also call the health department. That place is a breeding ground for disease and health menace.

What about child welfare? Was this hatchery at someone's home where children reside? They are putting children's health at risk if they are allowing them to walk barefoot through this nightmare.

Those are 3 places I can think of to start with. Don't let any of them brush you off, keep pressing the issue.

How did you hear of this place, through the newspaper, Craigslist, word of mouth? Maybe you could save someone else from what you went through by sharing some feedback about the place.

(You did put those 2 new chicks in quarantine before they come close to your birds, right?)

Yes horrible. I reported to the animal control. They went out and said there were no dead chickens and that she said that she doesn't not have a business. This is a temp thing she does around Easter.... No it is not! I will not stop following up until she cleans it up and gets a business license so she is checked out frequently. I heard about it on KSL.com in the classified section. We were looking for a specific breed. I paid $22 for two chickens that look hammered. Thankfully they are doing OK and seem to be healthy. They just look really dirty. I put them into my chicken pen tonight and they now seem happy. The hatchery is located in Taylorsville Utah. Chase Hatchery. http://www.chasehatchery.com/

 

[rls77]

I am just learning this site and apparently my first post that didn't show up posted so I have two threads going.

 

[N F C]

She really does misrepresent herself, doesn't she? It doesn't seem logical that someone would have a website and a Facebook page for selling chicks, fertile eggs, turkeys, ducks and geese ONLY around Easter.

I'm glad you notified animal control, they needed to be made aware.

How are your 2 chicks doing, everything ok with them?

 

[rls77]

They are doing great. They both look a bit better, The one that I don't know what breed it is has some feathers that are not very pretty but it seems to be getting there. It was supposed to be an easter egger but I am about 99% sure it is not.

 

[N F C]

Glad to hear your new birds are doing well. If you would like the resident experts to give their opinion on breed, you can post photos on this forum (see picture guidelines for best shot at id): https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this

Good luck to you!

 

[chasethomas]

I just went there today. The children had no shoes and neither did she. I picked up 2 silkies that seem to be fine in health also she has put out lots of feeders and watering station things. I didn't see any dead birds but I did not go inside or look for any.

 

[rls77]

I'm happy about the feeders and waterers! All I cared about was the care and sanitary conditions for the chickens. I guess if she chooses not to wear shoes then that's her personal hygiene issue. After what I seen there it sounds like she has made improvements and that is what matters. After speaking to animal control I would be really shocked if any dead chickens were found and the conditions had not improved. Hopefully she can keep it on the up and up. Thanks for posting what you seen and how you felt.