North Carolina

[TiaRC]

I have to rant for a minute or two. I went to go look at some potential new chicks from a lady near Jacksonville. She supposedly had all these beautiful rare birds. So I went and was informed that she had chicks available . I had just bought 25 chicks and had room for a few more. Upon arrival I saw 4 chickens crammed into a small dog kennel. Right away I could tell this wasn't a good place for chickens. Her stock was wet, standing on top of each other, no food or water and completely filthy with their own poo. Not one chicken was free range or even had a run. Note there are 40 chickens, 4 to each crate. She let me over to her "chick stash". Standing in a 5 gallon bucket where 30 day old bitties. It was heart breaking. Again no food or water, standing in their own filth. Most where so crusty they couldn't move their head or wings and where very cold. Did I mention they had no light... Well I didn't get any bitties but on my way to my car I heard the faintest peeping coming from a bush. I walked over and found 2 chicks, cold, wet, starving, their fluff was hard and crusty. I grabbed the babies and took them to the lady. She took one look at them and said that they aren't gonna make it that I could take them. So I did. One looks to be a Cochin but I have no clue what the other is. Feathers are way to dirty to see. With in hours of getting them to my house. I had them warmed, eating and drinking. And where running around. I currently have a strong motherly Silkie with them for comfort and support. Things are looking up so far. I hope they stay that way.

 

[jtbass2756]

I have to rant for a minute or two. I went to go look at some potential new chicks from a lady near Jacksonville. She supposedly had all these beautiful rare birds. So I went and was informed that she had chicks available . I had just bought 25 chicks and had room for a few more. Upon arrival I saw 4 chickens crammed into a small dog kennel. Right away I could tell this wasn't a good place for chickens. Her stock was wet, standing on top of each other, no food or water and completely filthy with their own poo. Not one chicken was free range or even had a run. Note there are 40 chickens, 4 to each crate. She let me over to her "chick stash". Standing in a 5 gallon bucket where 30 day old bitties. It was heart breaking. Again no food or water, standing in their own filth. Most where so crusty they couldn't move their head or wings and where very cold. Did I mention they had no light... Well I didn't get any bitties but on my way to my car I heard the faintest peeping coming from a bush. I walked over and found 2 chicks, cold, wet, starving, their fluff was hard and crusty. I grabbed the babies and took them to the lady. She took one look at them and said that they aren't gonna make it that I could take them. So I did. One looks to be a Cochin but I have no clue what the other is. Feathers are way to dirty to see. With in hours of getting them to my house. I had them warmed, eating and drinking. And where running around. I currently have a strong motherly Silkie with them for comfort and support. Things are looking up so far. I hope they stay that way.

Gosh, that reminds me of these puppy mill picts your see on tv....that is so bad

...I would have been crying!!

Wonder of you could report her to someone for the cruelty to animals?

 

[TiaRC]

I

[COLOR=800080]Gosh, that reminds me of these puppy mill picts your see on tv....that is so bad ...I would have been crying!!  Wonder of you could report her to someone for the cruelty to animals?[/COLOR]

I called animal control who gave me the humane society number. They have been reported. I couldn't do nothing out of good consciousness.

 

[TiaRC]

Here are the poor babies. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get them clean again? Their feathers are still very hard and nasty

 

[StarMeKritten]

I called animal control who gave me the humane society number. They have been reported. I couldn't do nothing out of good consciousness.

Good call. It's so sad when people treat any kind of animals like that. I hope your little chickies recover and grow up to be big and strong in spite of their rough beginning!

 

[ramirezframing]

I'm new to the group, but I've been lurking for about two years, and I am also friends with Country Chicken. Hoping to get some of her Silkies, but we will see how my moving in and her moving out timing works.....
I am predominately interested in Ameraucanas, though. More specifically Wheaten and Lavender. I noticed a few breeders selling hatching eggs from NC, VA, and GA (all decent options). But I'd really love to try to find someone local with chicks. I made contact with Robert last year, but he no longer does LF, and Beth is about 4 hours from me (I'm in the Triangle area). Anyone less than 2 hours from me?
I'd love to start my flock this year, but I'd like to hear what the rest of you think about timing. If I started hatching eggs in my incubator (thanks, country chicken!) on October 3, would my chicks (hatching end of Oct) get a good enough head start before the frost*? Or would it be better to get chicks? Or even better to wait till spring? *obviously I would keep my chicks in a brooder, I'm just wondering how young of juveniles can withstand freezing temps.

new flocker

I have quite hatching eggs now as I brood outside. Coop Scoop has lavender ameraucanas.

 

[ramirezframing]

Here are the poor babies. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get them clean again? Their feathers are still very hard and nasty

You can dip them into some warm water to clean them, kinda swish them around in it. But make sure they are thoroughly dry before you give them back to the hen.

 

[StarMeKritten]

Here are the poor babies. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get them clean again? Their feathers are still very hard and nasty

Maybe someone else will have a better suggestion.. but I would just give them a bath in warm water and maybe a little dab of dish soap if necessary. I've occasionally had to do that with chicks that had pasty butt or had residual gooey/ crusty stuff after hatching. Be very careful so that you don't get water in their nose. I usually avoid getting their heads wet at all if I can help it. They will need to be kept very warm until they dry.

 

[TiaRC]

Good call. It's so sad when people treat any kind of animals like that. I hope your little chickies recover and grow up to be big and strong in spite of their rough beginning!

Thank you. It was the right thing to do. The chickens were so crammed and nasty I couldn't tell what half of them were. Absolutely dreadful. Thank so much. They have a ways to go but they have perked up and are very lively. I was examining the wing feathers on both chicks and it looks like they are over a day only. Looks like a week or so old. I have no idea how they made it. They have earned them selves to be permanent residents no matter what they are.

 

[TiaRC]

I will give them a nice little bath. More pics when they are dry so I can have some ID help. The first chick is still baffling me