GottaHaveBirds
Chirping
- Jul 28, 2016
- 24
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I've been lurking for over a year and have been here a lot learning everything I can about chickens and turkeys.
I have a small flock of mixed chickens (layers and dual purpose) that I've raised since they were a day old and a dozen turkeys Orlopp Bronze. So far everyone is doing OK, growing and my family is enjoying raising these birds.
My neighbor has a small flock of chickens and they're more than two years old. Their egg laying is slowing and she's considering getting some chicks next year. When I asked her what she plans to do with the older hens she said she's going to let them loose and whatever happens to them so be it.
I don't think that's a responsible thing to do and that those birds should be culled rather than being put through of the stress of being hunted by predators. We have many of those in these parts. Even if the meat is tough the carcasses can be used for stock. I won't take her chickens because I don't want to expose my flock to hers. Who knows - they could have parasites or diseases.
She doesn't want to keep spending money on feed and bedding on hens that don't produce. I understand that but I don't think it's fair to let loose animals that are raised by and dependent on humans for their safety and care. She also has dogs and cats (the felines roam freely even tho I told her to keep them on her own property) and aren't neutered or spade and one of the cats had a litter of kittens. She still won't spend the $ to get them fixed. This is the type of human I live near.
Does anyone else here have experience with this type of human? Thanks for your advice and love being a part of this community.
I have a small flock of mixed chickens (layers and dual purpose) that I've raised since they were a day old and a dozen turkeys Orlopp Bronze. So far everyone is doing OK, growing and my family is enjoying raising these birds.
My neighbor has a small flock of chickens and they're more than two years old. Their egg laying is slowing and she's considering getting some chicks next year. When I asked her what she plans to do with the older hens she said she's going to let them loose and whatever happens to them so be it.
I don't think that's a responsible thing to do and that those birds should be culled rather than being put through of the stress of being hunted by predators. We have many of those in these parts. Even if the meat is tough the carcasses can be used for stock. I won't take her chickens because I don't want to expose my flock to hers. Who knows - they could have parasites or diseases.
She doesn't want to keep spending money on feed and bedding on hens that don't produce. I understand that but I don't think it's fair to let loose animals that are raised by and dependent on humans for their safety and care. She also has dogs and cats (the felines roam freely even tho I told her to keep them on her own property) and aren't neutered or spade and one of the cats had a litter of kittens. She still won't spend the $ to get them fixed. This is the type of human I live near.
Does anyone else here have experience with this type of human? Thanks for your advice and love being a part of this community.
. Great to have you here. Glad you joined. I am in total agreement with you regarding your neighbor. Domestic fowl is not intended to fend for itself and "see what happens." What happens is that they will slowly get picked off by predators. They have almost zero survival skills. By taking this approach I think your neighbor is kind of cowardly simply because her birds aren't as productive as they once were and her out of sight out of sight out of mind approach is unethical and cruel. Sounds like she just wants to make it easy on herself and to heck with the chickens. There may be any number of locals willing to re-home them or even cull them for meat. Anything is better than them just being turned out. Can you approach her about seeking a re-homing? Best of luck and thanks for caring.
