Neglected animals. I need advice!

[Ellochicken]

I don't think you should have him over to your place again! Especially with those chicks around! He might hide them in his jacket or something and smuggle them to his house, and kill them the next day. If he even comes to your place, order him off, a person like that in your life isn't needed..... You seem like a very kind person to care for chicks like that, and he just wants them for a short pleasure, for example, you are a dog, and you chase a car for a very long time, and once you catch it, what do you do with it? And you loose all interest in it, and walk away. And that whole if I cant have it, no one can thing occurs again, I think the right thing to do is call some help. Keep him clear away from your animals, and try your best to make sure that he doesn't get his hands on any other innocent life! You are brave to take baby animals from a monster like that, don't feel bad at all for ordering him off of your property, he just wants your birds, and from what you've said, I think you do an amazing job of caring for your birds...... If you truly want to, keep him away and keep the chicks, selling them or giving them away doesn't have to be the first option! Keep them for yourself if you want and stay away form him! You don't need him in your life!

You are doing the right thing Zanily!

-Ellochicken

 

[Zanily]

Update:

Both chicks are growing up well and are almost ready to have their heat lamp turned off. The wounds they had when I first recieved them have now healed perfectly. I had to clean their cuts daily to keep them clean...The chicks didn't like this very much so I thought they would dislike me but they've turned out very tame and friendly

I've sexed the chicks and I'm 99% sure one is a male and the other is female. I plan to either keep the hen and re home the rooster or to have them re homed together (they're not related) because after everything they've been through it seems a shame to spilt them up

As for the guy I got the chicks from, I haven't seen or spoke to him since the last time I mentioned

Thank you all so much for your help. Every piece of advice you gave me helped towards saving the chicks.

 

[EggieRowe]

So glad that they pulled through! You did a wonderful thing protecting and caring for those chicks. I'm sure you'll find them great homes. Odds are your acquaintance found something new and shiny to fixate on - hopefully nothing alive though!

 

[janinepeters]

Should I lie and tell my friend the chicks died and then give them to someone who will look after them? Do you think I can talk my friend out of wanting them by showing him they're not so cute when they grow up and they take a lot of time and care? He doesn't even have a chicken coop, should I show him how much they cost?

Yes, I would keep them and tell them they died. Hard to tell from what you say, but given their injuries, it might be kinder to put them out of their misery. I absolutely would not return them to your "friend". Keep an eye on that guy for your own safety, as well as for the safety of any other animals under is "care".

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Quote: What do you mean, a genuine mistake? It isn't a sign that someone is a terrible chicken owner that they haven't come looking for them. No one turned those chicks out on their own to die. A predator got them. The predator was the cat. Why would anyone be looking for baby chicks taken by a predator? The most common assumption is that those chicks were long since eaten. If there is a home with hens near your friend's house, that's where they most likely came from. A cat isn't going to drag prey for miles to bring it home, and there are multiple chicks. Give the chicks back. Then you won't have to worry about your scary friend, either.

 

[sumi]

What do you mean, a genuine mistake? It isn't a sign that someone is a terrible chicken owner that they haven't come looking for them. No one turned those chicks out on their own to die. A predator got them. The predator was the cat. Why would anyone be looking for baby chicks taken by a predator? The most common assumption is that those chicks were long since eaten. If there is a home with hens near your friend's house, that's where they most likely came from. A cat isn't going to drag prey for miles to bring it home, and there are multiple chicks. Give the chicks back. Then you won't have to worry about your scary friend, either.

It sounds like the chicks are in good hands with the OP. I just found this thread and read the whole story and I'm glad they got a good home and is doing so well. I don't see why he/she should give them up now, after all he/she's done.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

It sounds like the chicks are in good hands with the OP. I just found this thread and read the whole story and I'm glad they got a good home and is doing so well. I don't see why he/she should give them up now, after all he/she's done.

Well, the friend wants the birds back, and OP was asking what to do with them.


Also, it bothered me when everyone kept insinuating that the original owner of the birds didn't deserve them because they didn't come looking for them. Come on, people, if a predator carried off a clutch of chicks, would you look for them, or would you expect them to be dead?

None of this was meant to say the OP did anything wrong. It was good of them to get those chicks out of that situation. And the OP stated their willingness to give the chicks back to the original owners.

 

[Dook]

I'm glad they've all healed up and that your 'friend' hasnt bothered you more about them ^__^ I think it'd be good to try re-home home them together, I always like to think my chickens have been friends since hatchlings and I wouldnt split them up! =P And like you said, they have gone through so much together! =)

I hope you find somewhere good and careing for them!

Its also a shame your have a friend who is like that, I had a friend when i was 10 who was like that, but their parents always gave the animals away... havent met anyone older who is like that though! They need to grow up already =P

 

[theoldchick]

Not to be alarmist, but you might want to look up the criteria for a sociopath and take an honest inventory of your friend. Not just for the sake of the chicks, but for yourself. People like that in your life can be toxic, even dangerous.

x2

 

[ReikiStar]

Zanily - thanks for doing the right thing and I would agree that your "friend" is a sociopath. I assume his mother is clueless? Unfortunately, the guy is considered an adult so she's legally powerless over him. Next time you know he's abusing an animal PLEASE report him to the authorities. Otherwise, stay away from this guy and make sure he can't get to your animals when you're not around.