Need advice from experts

[streetriley]

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

 

[LaFleche]

The ammonia from the manure will lead to respiratory diseases and provides wonderful grounds for parasites to propagate.

 

[streetriley]

The ammonia from the manure will lead to respiratory diseases and provides wonderful grounds for parasites to propagate.

I kind of guessed that and try to tell her because it's just like human feces, it's bad for you. I will inform her and the smell is so horrid it will almost knock you over. I have alot of work cut out for me....again

 

[Weeg]

Someone needs to get a hold of that situation, even if animal control is nessaary. You should talk to her and instead of telling her the chickens aren't safe make it sound like she isn't safe because of the chickens, and then she might listen to you. Thats the angle I took with my grandparents!

 

[feather13]

We have Mareks in our flock thanks to an unethical local hatchery. There's *no way* I would ever take in or rescue someone else's chickens. I know that may sound cruel, but Mareks is a terrible disease (all chicken diseases are terrible because they hide their symptoms for so long and some their diseases, like Mareks, are lethal/hard to treat). For that same reason, we can never have anyone who owns chickens come near our coop and we can never rehome chicks that have been out of our indoor brooder. I feel really sorry for your mom's chickens. Maybe you could offer to come over and clean her coop out, put in new bedding, and treat any sick chickens at her place then thoroughly decontaminate your clothes and shoes when you get home?

 

[streetriley]

I love that idea! Never crossed my mind! I will try this! Thank you!

 

[streetriley]

We have Mareks in our flock thanks to an unethical local hatchery. There's *no way* I would ever take in or rescue someone else's chickens. I know that may sound cruel, but Mareks is a terrible disease (all chicken diseases are terrible because they hide their symptoms for so long and some their diseases, like Mareks, are lethal/hard to treat). For that same reason, we can never have anyone who owns chickens come near our coop and we can never rehome chicks that have been out of our indoor brooder. I feel really sorry for your mom's chickens. Maybe you could offer to come over and clean her coop out, put in new bedding, and treat any sick chickens at her place then thoroughly decontaminate your clothes and shoes when you get home?

I could, I probably should get a veterinarian involved since I'm new to this and they've been untreated for so long. I'd have to do it on a Friday when she works or she wouldn't have any of it! Thank you for the suggestion, its hard for me to watch for sure!

 

[LaFleche]

I kind of guessed that and try to tell her because it's just like human feces, it's bad for you. I will inform her and the smell is so horrid it will almost knock you over. I have alot of work cut out for me....again

As it seems it will not matter how much work you put into it to better the situation, she will just ruin your effort by acquiring more and more chickens. As long as you help her out, she has no reason to change her attitude. This reminds me of Sisyphus.

Might even be better to have animal control clear the situation as she might rather get convinced by what officials have to say.

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

I think there's ways to anonymously report someone for animal control, just act oblivious!

On one hand I wouldn't want the birds to suffer, but on the other she needs to be taught that what she's got going on isn't right and back in 4H people would always get their butt back into gear if a bird was lost... I'd try animal control. I wouldn't think that they would like take the chickens away upon first visit, just probably give her a warning, if she can't handle 80 birds at 70 then I wouldn't allow her rely on you to solely care for them, they're not yours and you will soon have your own flock! A small flock is very manageable for someone who is mobile enough to feed and water. She could even try a tractor and just move them every week if she didn't want to clean often, but I think owning too many animals, making you care for them yet you have no say in their care or life? That's unfair to you and those birds in my opinion

 

[streetriley]

W

As it seems it will not matter how much work you put into it to better the situation, she will just ruin your effort by acquiring more and more chickens. As long as you help her out, she has no reason to change her attitude. This reminds me of Sisyphus.

Might even be better to have animal control clear the situation as she might rather get convinced by what officials have to say.

Wow, so true! The cleaner it gets, the more she feels like she has room for chickens and will acquire more. Then she buys SEVERAL at a time ANTICIPATING that some will perish! And she'll always mention to me that she's confused at yo why they keep dying!? Then I'll finally convince her to tread with Corrid, but thats always a half a** attempt because she'll still leave some water left out that doesn't have the medication in it!! I believe that is ultimately what I have to do! I will occasionally see hens with very few feathers and assume it's lice and get her to treat for lice but she never cleans the coop out entirely...i could go on, but y'all get the point..