OK, I'm jumping in to battery hen rescue...now what?!!!!

[kickinchicken]

Well, to answer the question on what a poultry shop is...
Its supposed to be a quaint place that sells live poultry, they slaughter them after you pick them out...lovely, huh? This place is in the plaza on Federal Hill in Providence.
This particular poultry shop is a dingy little crap hole that is basically run by a bunch of non english speaking hispanics...ironically the shop has an italian name. Obviously no longer run by the old time italians. I walked in to this place and was directed that the live poultry was in back thru a plastic curtain, like they have in a meat locker. Well, the smell just smacks you in the face like a pimp. There are wire cages stacked 4 high. There was a row along one wall and another two-sided row to the right...about 50 or so cages, 4-7 meaties to a cage, 7 or so silkies in a cage, and the poor quail were just packed in so tight. Very inhumane. I noticed that not one cage had water in the waterers and they were filthy as well. I called the DEM on my way home to report them. I just don't understand how this place is even allowed to opeerate. They must breaking at least 20 health code violations. It was just gross. Even if I wanted to acquire my poultry from a fresh slaughter, this is not how I think it should be done. It just seemed so unsanitary. Filthy hens, horrible odor, no ventilation...ew!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have never heard of a place like that I hope they got shut down and sent ,well we won't go there.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Quote:
My Cornish X free-ranged and got a lot of excersive but they never roosted. I had a lone Isa Brown hen who I set up a small roost for but the Cornish always prefered the floor.

 

[Patricia Jane]

Quote:
I just don't understand how anyone can treat animals so poorly. It hurts to hear that places like this still exist. Wonder how many more are out there. Hope they get prosecuted.

 

[ryanhodapp]

I bet there are plenty of battery hens around, just like the puppy mills and other animal abuse that goes on. (including women and children)
If I ever get bigger space, I am going to rescue a hen.
Keep us posted, I am going to subscribe to this thread.

 

[kickinchicken]

Well. I will keep you all posted on my rescued girls as well as what transpires with the DEM next week. I think I am going to chat with my local dog officer next week to see what he thinks about this. He might know someone I can talk to or help get the issue moved along faster.
Its a new year for me and a new life for the 3 new hens.

 

[Miss Lydia]

And Happy New Year to You and Your New Hens......

 

[janinepeters]

Unfortunately, horribly crowded, tightly confined, poorly ventilated, filthy conditions which allow little to no opportunity for the animals to express their natural instincts is THE NORM for most "livestock" around the world, including the great USA. If you are not aware of this, please google factory farms, or, more properly, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. It is an abomination, another holocaust, with billions of animals suffering like this every year.

If you would like to see our food animals treated humanely, do not buy animal products that come from these places. That would include most animal products sold in supermarkets. The "Certified Humane" label is the gold standard for humanely produced animal products, if you do not produce your own food, and do not have access to local farms where you know how the animals are kept.

Kickinchicken, you are a wonderful person to be taking this on. Thank you for doing it. I wish there were more people like you!

 

[kickinchicken]

So, as promised, I have finally got some pics of the girls.
Here they are in their box which I took them home...

Here's Mildred in the bath

Here they are in their temporary chicken triage...

And here's a closer look...

Today they had their first real meal. Romain lettuce, shredded cheddar, ricotta cheese, apples and chick starter. As I noted before, they have a Tums in their water for calcium and magnesium, I've added Poly-Vi-Sol to the water as well. They have access to granite grit and oyster shells for more calcium. They are still very skittish yet I have been making it a point to get in their enclosure a few times a day and get down to their level and touch them gently and speak softly. I tell them often that they will never be hurt again and that no one is going to grab them by their feet anymore. I also tell them how special and pretty they are. They are peeping softly in the background sifting thru the straw as I type this.

I do have one question...how old do you all think they are? I am thinking they are young as they are probably of the type that was bred from quickly growing stock. Any input on this would be fabulous. For me, though, December 31 will be their real birthday to me. I sooo can't wait til their 30 day quarantine is over and I can get them out with the other girls and their tiny rooster.

Can you imagine...a bantam EE roo trying to mate with my big Cornish crosses? I will be sure to get that on Youtube!!!

 

[chkn]

Hey, they're pretty little things!