Thank you. Yes, I was shocked too. The conversation went something like this:
Me - hey, remember me? I traded you those 2 roosters for two hens about a week and a half ago? How are you? How are the roosters working out for you?
Him - yeah, I remember. They're fine. What's up?
Me - well, you know....that red hen I got? Remember it had a bad eye? You pulled the eyelid back and saw that there was an eye, but the lid was swollen shut? Well, when I got it home, I noticed it had a very bad odor to it (the bird). Anyway, I put both that one and the other hen in with my other 4 chickens, assuming it was just a bad eye. But I realize now that I should have quarantined them first. I think that red one might have been sick, and now one of my original hens is also sick with similar symptoms plus a wet, rattley cough. Anyway, I was just wondering if you had any sort of outbreak on your farm lately, that perhaps might be similar to what I'm experiencing? I'm just trying to find out what might be wrong so I know what to do to treat my hens? I've done some research on the symptoms, and I'm afraid it might be infectious corzya. Have you ever heard of that? Have you had anything like that on your place lately?
Him - well, it didn't come from me! I haven't ever had any problems. My flock is clean!
Me - Well, I'm not very experienced but I've done some research, and the most distinctive thing I noticed is that this bird has a very foul odor. It smells almost like a dead corpse.
Him - Well, if it has an odor, maybe you ought to try cleaning out your pens!
Me - I do clean them out. Once a week actually. I researched chicken illnesses and found that only the corzya has a symptom like that. If you haven't had any outbreaks, I'm glad, but I do want you to know that you might want to keep an eye on your flocks because I think they may have been exposed.
Him - (mumbles something, curses and hangs up on me).
2 minutes later, he calls me back!
Him - Let me tell you something! If you think I intentionally gave you a bad bird, I'll be glad to give you my license number and you're welcome to report it to the State Agriculture dept. I have them inspect routinely. I am licensed to sell birds and I have never ever had a problem. Maybe before you call up accusing me of anything, you ought to get your facts straight. And by the way, only an idiot would trade two perfectly good laying hens for 2 roosters! I thought we could do business together since I was doing you a favor, and now you call me up complaining and accusing me of passing off bad hens on purpose!
Me - I think you are misunderstanding the purpose of my call. I was calling to get information from you in hopes that I could figure out whats wrong, so I would know how or what to use to treat my flock. I have not accused you of anything.
Him - then maybe you need to learn when to shut your mouth! I already told you that I didn't have a problem, and then you go and make a comment about how I need to keep an eye on my flock because they've been exposed. You are accusing me of passing it on to you, after I told you I didn't have a problem! And you just kept talking. I don't need that!
Me - I am sorry you misunderstood my purpose. After you told me that you didn't have any problems, I still felt it was the responsible thing to do to tell you that you should keep an eye out. I do believe the hen was sick when I got it, and I got it from you, so I thought my comments were more of a warning.
Him - well, if you think the thing is suffering, maybe you ought to do the right thing and get your husband to put it out of it's misery instead of wasting time calling me up accusing me of passing on a sick bird. You need to do the right thing and learn when to let it go!
(Then he hands the phone to his wife and tells her to talk to me). I told her I hoped that if they did detect anything later on, that I hope they would call me, but I doubt I'll hear from them again.
I was absolutely horrified. But at the same time, I now think he's guilty. His defensiveness was just too suspicious. I didn't write down his license number, but now I wish I had.
