How to advise a friend on their chicken care

[springvalley123]

I wonder if you could move that "temporary" structure a bit closer to your birds (next to it) and then pull one of your birds into the temporary enclosure, etc..... and maybe the neighbors will forget all about the hen? I was going to suggest secretly rehoming her and her "boyfriend" but word could get back. I'm not wild about recommending lying to the neighbors but they've had a long time to change their ways and some things never change. Like caring about animals or not.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Don't pay me much mind, okay? I'm dealing with poison ivy all over my lower legs and it's making me quite crabby, lol.

Oh that's awful, I'm sorry! Poison oak is my bane, I hate it soooo much. Don't worry, you didn't come across as crabby to me

 

[FunnyBunny89]

I wonder if you could move that "temporary" structure a bit closer to your birds (next to it) and then pull one of your birds into the temporary enclosure, etc..... and maybe the neighbors will forget all about the hen? I was going to suggest secretly rehoming her and her "boyfriend" but word could get back. I'm not wild about recommending lying to the neighbors but they've had a long time to change their ways and some things never change. Like caring about animals or not.

I actually can't because there's no shade available near the main coop. But ultimately, it has been a difficult summer as is; I bought chicks on 4 separate occasions, and each round of introductions have come with coccidiosis, a cold of some sort, and tapeworms. So far, I have managed to treat and save all of them but I am done, done, done! I got my flock of 15, and I don't want to add anymore. If I ended up with these two chickens for whatever reason, I would rehome them.

 

[african chickens]

You know I had a similar situation where my BF now ex had a shed type structure with one open side for airflow other side was lined with cages on the inside and a few runs on the outside. but they had mostly empty cages uncleaned from the rabbits they used to house they later used for meat, either way the top corner cage had a pair of doves living about 3 inches of feces and the chickens were overcrowded and filthy their cage also full of feces both times I was there the doves had no water. I was easily able to rescue the two doves out of there I asked if I could have them they basically said whatever if you really want them go ahead so I took them, apparently they tried releasing them multiple times but they always came back. I would have taken some hens but I didn't have space also that would involve alot more convincing. It was hard but I knew I couldn't do anything for those birds without conflict.

 

[Themellowyellows]

I would just tell them how it is, sure the truth hurts, but you are doing whats best for the animal ( or chicken in this place). Tell them that you saw a change in her and that you think that either she should get the right care or stay with you, as abusing animals or not giving a animal proper care is not right... If you noticed she started laying eggs with your care, that could mean she was calcium deficienct and there for could suffer from being egg bound... You should offer her some grit while she is there, and offer to deworm her, as I am sure she has worms being kept like that. How do her poops look? Have her eggs been hard shelled?

 

[FunnyBunny89]

I would just tell them how it is, sure the truth hurts, but you are doing whats best for the animal ( or chicken in this place). Tell them that you saw a change in her and that you think that either she should get the right care or stay with you, as abusing animals or not giving a animal proper care is not right... If you noticed she started laying eggs with your care, that could mean she was calcium deficienct and there for could suffer from being egg bound... You should offer her some grit while she is there, and offer to deworm her, as I am sure she has worms being kept like that. How do her poops look? Have her eggs been hard shelled?

Oh yes, she's actually been fine since I've had her. The only obvious issue was dehydration. Her first egg was a little misshapen and weak, but I give her the same food and treats I give mine every morning and night and all her other eggs have been healthy. I won't bother to deworm her unless her poop looks off but it hasn't.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

You know I had a similar situation where my BF now ex had a shed type structure with one open side for airflow other side was lined with cages on the inside and a few runs on the outside. but they had mostly empty cages uncleaned from the rabbits they used to house they later used for meat, either way the top corner cage had a pair of doves living about 3 inches of feces and the chickens were overcrowded and filthy their cage also full of feces both times I was there the doves had no water. I was easily able to rescue the two doves out of there I asked if I could have them they basically said whatever if you really want them go ahead so I took them, apparently they tried releasing them multiple times but they always came back. I would have taken some hens but I didn't have space also that would involve alot more convincing. It was hard but I knew I couldn't do anything for those birds without conflict.

That sounds really difficult. I would feel so bad if I couldn't do anything about it, but you're right. Some people get agitated if you offer help, and you never know how personally they'll take it.

 

[african chickens]

That sounds really difficult. I would feel so bad if I couldn't do anything about it, but you're right. Some people get agitated if you offer help, and you never know how personally they'll take it.

It was extremely hard but I'm happy at least these two are happy and they even have 3 babies now

Bottom two are the parents top 3 are their kids

 

[SandyRiverChick]

but I think the husband is doing all the work

When you say "the husband," I really don't get the feeling these are good friends of yours and therefore I don't think it's going to go well for you to intervene. If they're building something new, you can't be critical of the past and get anywhere. So just hang tight, is my opinion. Many people come on BYC with stories of their own neglect, just as bad as your recap of these folks and worse. And they don't usually get so ripped by other BYC'ers. I think people are being critical about them because it's so indirect.

 

[SmiYa0126]

This right here. This is the truth.

You shouldn't have the right to buy innocent birds just to let them get maimed to death. Now that's animal cruelty. I've found that people hardly think of chickens of animals and more livestock. They just think "Ehhh their just chickens!". Which is really sad to me.

Me too, I love my girls. They bring me so much joy.