Need advice from experts

[Orpingtons Mom]

BOTH!! NEGLECT AND HYGIENE! I don't want to call animal control on my mom, she may never speak to me again!

Call animal control. I live off a very busy street, and have had animal control called on me numerous times. It’s gotten to the point where animal control and I laugh about it. Regardless of who calls and why, they must investigate.

The last time animal control was by my place, they just hopped the fence took a look, and left. They have my permission to do so.

They will never release the person’s name that called. Never never never. Does it smell? Is it visible from the road...? If your mother confronts you, the “oh right. Like I’m going to call AC on my Mom, for heavens sake.”

 

[MROO]

Call animal control. I live off a very busy street, and have had animal control called on me numerous times. It’s gotten to the point where animal control and I laugh about it. Regardless of who calls and why, they must investigate.

The last time animal control was by my place, they just hopped the fence took a look, and left. They have my permission to do so.

They will never release the person’s name that called. Never never never. Does it smell? Is it visible from the road...? If your mother confronts you, the “oh right. Like I’m going to call AC on my Mom, for heavens sake.”

Actually, that might be the perfect scenario - especially if you follow up the comment with an offer to help her get things straightened out and maintainable ... to keep "That Loony" off her back!

 

[Orpingtons Mom]

Actually, that might be the perfect scenario - especially if you follow up the comment with an offer to help her get things straightened out and maintainable ... to keep "That Loony" off her back!

They are reasonable people, as in my case, they know I am not abusing my horses. They know what neglect looks like.

 

[cmom]

I'm in my 70's. I'm always working around my birds and coops. Maybe if you go over one day and said "mom lets do this together" such as cleaning her coop with her and work with her, maybe it will help. I don't know but maybe taking some of her birds will relieve her a bit and help. What are the problems with her birds. I do all of my work myself because my DH is 80 years young but has Parkinson's so getting around is hard for him.

 

[MROO]

They are reasonable people, as in my case, they know I am not abusing my horses. They know what neglect looks like.

Yup - they're just doing their job, which happens to include making sure that WE are doing ours, by our animals. The "Loony" I referred to was the "random stranger" who called AC in the first place. Offering to help fix the problem while hiding the fact of being the same "random loony" sounds like a perfect solution to help the birds ... AND maintain family peace!

 

[streetriley]

If your family member is having these issues with her “hobby farm” chickens maybe when she finds out that you are willing to take a few of her extra chickens you might really get down to the core of the problem. It might be that the reason comes out as to why she treats them like she does. Maybe she cannot handle the load of the chickens anymore but doesn’t want to admit it. Maybe she is just too proud. Older people are often too proud to admit they can’t do things like they used to or that younger people might be better at handling things than they are. Sometimes they just won’t admit that the burden has gotten too heavy or too dangerous or too difficult for their bodies or brains. My parents lived until their late 80’s and early 90’s and were very proud. They would not admit that they could not handle all the upkeep on their house, paperwork, driving,! , their eyesight, financial matters,! going grocery shopping, doing big errands for big items or large problems having a backup opinion. It’s a big deal when they get a certain age and it’s hard to admit these things. You might find that this comes out not only about the chickens but a lot of things.

I think you just hit the nail on the head here. I truly believe that is the core issue among a few other things, she's just too proud to admit she cannot handle it anymore.

 

[streetriley]

She needs to put the broody hen in with the chicks in a safe place to let the broody hen raise the chicks for several weeks at LEAST until the babies are fully-feathered. They only need chick starter and water that way.

Broody hens with chicks can be raised in cages or pens or small coops outside. No need for indoors.

Should not separate the babies from their mother. The broody hen will keep the chicks warm.

If you let the chicks go in the yard too early in bad and wet weather, the chicks can be lost.

The problem is that she is separating the chicks from their mother(s) too soon.

Thank you, I agree totally!

 

[cmom]

The reason she likes all the roosters is because she loves the hybrids they make. She's all about the prettiest feathers and such nonsense. Chickens, to me, are absolutely pets and ill be using them for egg laying and of course pets. They are so entertaining, better than T.V.!

The birds aren't hybrids, just plain crosses (mutts). I'm sure your mother isn't selectively breeding.

 

[cmom]

streetriley said:
You have a very good point! She says the manure (chicken poop) keeps them warm in the winter!!!!

And also respiratory issues.

 

[streetriley]

The birds aren't hybrids, just plain crosses (mutts). I'm sure your mother isn't selectively breeding.

Not selectively no. She does hope certain roosters will mate with certain hens for beautiful plumage i.e.: she loves the Americana and wanted to see what it would look like with the Brahma or Lavendar Orpington, things like that. Which is why we have too many roosters.