Helping other people manage their flocks (?) A bit of a dillema

[StephieSky]

I'm not sure where to put this, so if I'm out of order please forgive me.

Question: How would you approach helping out a chicken flock owner who has some chickens infested with parasites?

I really like these people. They're fun people, well educated and easy to talk to. I've been to their house for dinner three times now and enjoyed it every time. The last time I ended up adopting a pair of "egg eating" hens. They said I could have them, no charge, as they were going to be eaten themselves the next day for their bad habits. They don't cull their animals unless they see no other option so they weren't looking forwards to doing this at all.
So we trooped out to the pen and we spent about a half hour coaxing them with food so I could pick them up. Oh so cute! I adore my new chickens!
In the course of general conversation and looking around myself, I know this much: They have between 40 and 50 hens in a large chicken wire fenced gravel lot. There's a pyramid lean to of plywood for shelter, open on both ends with some boxes in it for nesting. No coop or shed. She wasn't sure how old the hens I got were and they all different ages. Their flock is mostly giveaways they've collected from craigslist over time. The one time they bought chickens all of the chicks died.

Well, I rushed home with my new chickens, not being any more prepared lol Its been a busy few weeks since I got them. They now have a kennel, a chicken house, nest box, etc. I hadn't planned on chickens but I wouldn't give my two up now
They also have scaly leg (very bad), mites ( I only saw one running on her back and then on closer inspection ... oh ****. They have those mites too!! ) , plus they have serious worms. All of this is being taken care of! I'm doing the necessary and they're getting better. We're actually kind of bonding with all of the handling thats going on. Liza sat on my lap of her own free will last night. Then promptly pooped on me and left : /

Anyways, heres my dilemma:
I want to approach these people and offer to help them with the chickens that stayed behind. Share the medications I've purchase ( a 100 year supply for two hens lol ) and kind of clue them in to how badly infested their chickens are. I've been racking my brain on how to do it without causing offense and I'm not getting anywhere.

I'm hoping maybe some flock owners can help me out with some ideas of how to do this?
As a bit of an aside but still relevant, I do believe in free will and not forcing my ideas or preferences on other people. There are thousands upon thousands, if not millions, of animals and humans in far worse conditions all around the world. I don't want to come across as criticizing them in any way. This needs to be done constructively. I want to help them not insult them or alienate them.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and any help at all will be much appreciated.
Stephie

 

[LaceyMae]

Hi, Stephie, how kind and caring you are.

If it were me, I would say exactly what you said in your post. "I called to tell you that I found some parasites on the two girls you gave me, and I have some meds left over. I thought I would share it with you since they may have shared their bugs with your girls. I will even help with the administration! Afterall, you have alot more to treat than I did." Would you like to try to do it this weekend?"

No one could be offended by that offer. You are so wonderful to be concerned with their feelings.

 

[StephieSky]

Just checked on my hens after getting home. I'm so glad you came along
What a great answer. You're very kind!
I had even thought of bringing the meds to the next dinner as a gift but couldn't figure out what to say. It just didn't seem like the right approach. So many scenarios I've thought up and discarded. None of them were anywhere close to being as well spoken and kind as yours.

I'll practice this and give her a call. I'm quite leery about the possibility of being deferred to in this process. I don't want to get it wrong! I'll print out everything I've learned along the way and bring that too. That way we can refer to the instructions together and they'll see where I got my information from when I leave the printouts with her. Hopefully they'll join BYC They don't have internet at home but they do have access on campus and at the library.

I'm actually looking forwards to doing this now! The dread is gone. That feels really good. Its been bothering me.
Not just thinking about the chickens but because they're such good people and I'm hoping we'll be friends for years to come

I was just stumped.

I really appreciate you taking the time to help me out

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Make sure you retreat the chickens at 7 days (and for lice 14 days) to kill the hatching eggs!

 

[LaceyMae]

It was my pleasure.