Help me decide what to do...story & questions

[chickensducks&agoose]

it's an easy answer, not nearly as hard as people seem to think. Do the Right Thing. that way there's no guilt later, and no way to get in trouble. tell the neighbors you found a chicken that had been attacked by a coyote, and assuming it was yours, you brought it home. now you realize it isn't yours, and if it IS theirs, would they mind if you used this as an opportunity to try to nurse it back to health? just stealing it is wrong, but also ignoring what you want is wrong too. i bet they'd be glad to have it treated.

 

[billfields]

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Doesn't matter if they are slovenly and don't take care of their chickens. It's THEIR chicken. Much as people might like ther critters, (and I love my critters!) they are still property and it's still illegal to steal property

As for no honest people anymore I don't believe that. (Although I remain astounded at the number of people here that streatching to come up with reasons that stealing a chicken is okay) There are lot of honest people. The OP is clearly one of them or she wouldn't have asked what to do. "Getting real" doesn't mean you do whatever you want, it means understanding you can't do whatever you want, on both the large and small levels.

 

[CMV]

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Thou shalt not steal.

Timely lessons on this beautiful Sunday morning.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[abhaya]

If they have a large free range flock that is yoty food I would nurse her back and keep her as they are not too concerned about her. If they have a few as pets I would tell them. Your call.

 

[bobbi-j]

Quote:
Doesn't matter if they are slovenly and don't take care of their chickens. It's THEIR chicken. Much as people might like ther critters, (and I love my critters!) they are still property and it's still illegal to steal property

As for no honest people anymore I don't believe that. (Although I remain astounded at the number of people here that streatching to come up with reasons that stealing a chicken is okay) There are lot of honest people. The OP is clearly one of them or she wouldn't have asked what to do. "Getting real" doesn't mean you do whatever you want, it means understanding you can't do whatever you want, on both the large and small levels.

Ditto billfields. There are some honest people in the world. Admittedly, it seems like there are getting to be fewer and fewer, but there are some. I would like to add a couple of more things here. I would rather do right by my neighbors than a chicken. My neighbors can help me in return if I have a problem. Actually, I'm speaking from personal experience here. Our house burned to the ground several years ago. We lost everything (barely got out with our lives). Our neighbors were there helping us and supporting us every step of the way. No way would a chicken to that! I also don't believe that most of the people on this board "wouldn't think twice about shooting somebody's dog" who *inadvertently* got into their yard. I would, and believe most others would, give the dog a chance if it strayed into the yard. Now, if the dog were attacking people, chickens, or other animals, that's another story. The dog WOULD be gone. Even at that, there are many who would give the dog's owners a warning first.

To the OP, do the right thing. You'll sleep better.

 

[billfields]

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Folks it doesn't matter how many chickens they have, whether they have them for food pets or lawn ornaments, whether they have names, numbers or nothing, whether they free range live in a heated castle coop or a cardboard box. It is still their chicken. If the OP keeps it knowing that, no matter that she is nursing the hen, naming the hen or cooking the hen, she is stealing the hen. The decision is simple: to steal a hen from your nextdoor neighbor or not.

 

[GAchick]

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x2

 

[purr]

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The OP should memorize that speech; perfect. I'd be surprised if they didn't give her the hen. If they want a few bucks, so be it.

I agree this is the perfect way to say it. This is a tough economy a lot of people eat their chickens. Keeping it is taking food off their table , IMO

 

[purr]

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Just because someone free ranges doesn't mean they don't care about their flock. I free range and care about mine!

 

[purr]

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the OP has a free range flock that is just as vulnerable so you just insulted her too!

Realy shocked about the posts condoning thievery!
It doesn't matter if the chicken is a pet or a meal it still belongs to someone else

And to the poster who said their were no honest people left , don't judge everyone else by your own actions. I think their are many honest people left