I am an IDIOT, two sick "free" birds, buff brahmas

[WIChookchick]

So locally there was an ad on our CL for two free buff brahma bantam hens. I called and left a message and after a while, called and got the person who placed the ad.
He said a lady was going to take them to be companions for her single bird. I was next in line just in case of a no show.

Well he called around 1 o'clock and the first person hadn't come by, and wasn't returning calls. They had been in a crate for 3 or so hours, so I went to take them out to my farm,
put them in QT, next door to the 4 I brought in on Saturday.
I have them in the car driving them out to the farm and I hear "Huuurrrrr.... Huuuuurrrrrrr...."..
I am an idiot.. the guy mentioned one of his hens, he had had 5, died for no reason... (a coon had gotten 1 and a hawk had gotten 1 before that).
SO I cannot take them out to the farm, the barn is un-heated, they will need to have antibiotics for weeks, kept in a warmer environment, and I will have to HOPE and Pray that
they will be OK.
So they are at home here with me, in my old computer room that is the size of a small walk in closet.
One obviously has an URI. I am sure the other hen will get it.

I called him and told him about it, he did sound surprised. I said that if the lady called to tell her that I have a healthy bantam I am willing to give her, if she is interested.
I should have checked them over before taking them.

I think though if I had passed on them, he would have called the next person.. and if that person was as uneducated as he is... their flock could have been infected.
sigh.. I am an idiot, a soft hearted one, but, thankful to be on BYC, an educated idiot!

Carol

 

[Camelot Farms]

I cant say a word... I have adopted 2 free kittens that have to date cost me about 500.00.

My new mantra is 'nothing is ever free'.

Good luck with your birds.

 

[dawg53]

Chalk it up as a lessoned learned...could be much worse. Maybe a dose of tylan 50 will clear them up. Good luck.

 

[speckledhen]

Just know that if you try to treat with something like Tylan, it will not do a thing for a virus, and won't stop them from being carriers after the infection seems to clear up, depending on what it is.

It's always best to walk away empty-handed if you hear or see anything that sets off alarm bells.

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
Ditto.

 

[purpletree23]

You my dear are certainly not an idiot. You are human and we make mistakes and try to learn as we go along in this life. The person who gave you the 'free' chickens IS the idiot and karma is waiting just around the corner to settle the score.

Take this with a grain of salt and don't be so hard on yourself.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
+1