Saw some chickens at an animal shelter!

[Annalyse]

I felt bad. There were two young laying hens at an animal shelter. I was at the farmers market and they had a couple of dogs, cats, some guinea pigs, and 2 hens! They looked like Rhode Island reds but were skinny and had some fluffy white feathers. I don't know the breed. I wanted to take them home but know I cant. I would have to quarantine them and stuff because they could be sick. Plus my rooster has to like them LOL. just thought Id share this with you all. I want to know has anyone adopted a hen from a shelter??

 

[Parront]

I felt bad. There were two young laying hens at an animal shelter. I was at the farmers market and they had a couple of dogs, cats, some guinea pigs, and 2 hens! They looked like Rhode Island reds but were skinny and had some fluffy white feathers. I don't know the breed. I wanted to take them home but know I cant. I would have to quarantine them and stuff because they could be sick. Plus my rooster has to like them LOL. just thought Id share this with you all. I want to know has anyone adopted a hen from a shelter??

They sound like sex-link layers. Do Not Be tempted. They were dropped off at the shelter for a reason, and they have short lives. I would not take a hen from the shelter. Even hens from a friend could have something your flock has not been exposed to and can not handle. Quarantine is not enough sometimes. I have some friends that we pretty much treat our birds as one flock, and that is enough risk for me.

 

[neo71665]

About the time of year to start seeing abandoned chickens, also rabbits.

 

[Isadora]

Man, that's sad. Poor things

 

[Parront]

It is sad. I eat my extra birds. They have good lives, and a quick end. Sick birds need to be either cared for, or culled. The new people who got birds because of Covid do not understand how to care for them.

 

[Annalyse]

Update there are acaully 12 of them!! I was not going to adopt them but if I had a separate coop I would have gave them at least a home to live in before they ya know pass away. They think there Rhode island reds or brown Highlanders. That's what they think tho. And yes I do not agree with the people who just bought the cute little chicks during covid without research. I did my research for 3 years and still learning as I go.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Could be ex-battery hens. They may have issues related to egg laying, as many high-production breeds do. If they really are ex-battery hens, then I doubt they were exposed to disease, as they’re usually kept separated from any chickens outside of their initial flock mates.