Someone Stole My Best Silkie Hen At a Show Today :(

[patandchickens]

Seems like, if this is a recurrent problem at poultry shows, there needs to be either some indelible way of marking birds (like tattoos) or a unique 'fingerprint' type identification that could be used to prove identity. I wonder how hard it would be to tattoo a chicken; or how unique (and stable over time) their patterns of leg scales are?

So sorry to hear about your stolen bird, I sure hope you get her back, I saw your photo and she is really beautiful (and I say that as someone who's never previously seen any appeal in silkies!

),

Pat

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

I think we need to have bird-checkers at every door. Every person keeps a wristband on their wrist and the bird-checker has a clipboard. Whenever a bird is brought INTO the show, the bird gets a number on it's leg. That number corresponds to the owner's number. If a bird and a person don't match up, the alarm is raised and the owner is informed. The owner will explain they sold the bird or the bird was stolen.

For people entering the show, they have no band so they get an automatic alarm-call when they have a bird in their arms or cage when they leave.

Makes sense to me! Of course, it would have to be "perfected"...

 

[shortcake1806]

I'm so sorry to hear about your bird. Hopefully she'll be found and returned soon.

Excuse my complete ingnorance on this but what about toe punching? Does that dq the birds?

 

[BFeathered]

I like rodriguez' hospital-style matching bands idea. They are just like our babies, after all. So sorry to hear of your loss! I'm not into little bitty fluffies (what can I say, I like an armful of feathers!), but dang, that's just SICK! She is an absolutely beautiful girl, and hopefully someone will grow a conscience or a spine and get her back to you.

 

[BellLisamo]

oh my! im so sorry!!! what a gorgeous baby!! i hope you get her back

 

[horsejody]

Did you file a police report? That is very important. That way if you ever see the bird again there will be a record of the loss. I know of a roping horse that was stolen once. The original owner carried a copy of the original theft report and a missing poster for about 5 years. Then at a rodeo the horse turned up. The guy called the police and got his horse back because he always carried the documentation in his truck. The guy caught with the stolen horse didn't even know he was stolen. He bought it from someone else.

Unfortunately, the beautiful silkie may end up in a breeding program and never be shown again. But you never know. Most thieves aren't that smart.

 

[SunshineSilkies]

Quote:
I agree that there needs to be someone checking the birds going out..They check you when you are coming in to make sure that you are NPIP tested..At the last show I entered, I partnered up with a lady that was showing Silkies beside me(I bought one of hers also) and while she was loading up some of her birds, I watched hers that were still in the cages, and then she would watch mine.(Hers place BB/BV & mine got RB/RV). This was a show after the Silkie Nationals when a silkie was stolen. We were paranoid with all of the people walking around. We took turns going to our vehicles...It's terrible that it is coming to this. There needs to be some kind of viable system worked out. Maybe someone who is a judge or has organized a show can let us know what is being discussed after some of these thefts. There needs to be something in place especially for the kids that are showing. If one of my granddaughter's birds were stolen, she would be devastated and probably wouldn't want to show again. We need our kids & grandkids to feel the sense of accomplishment they get when they show, not be scared their bird will be stolen..Let's hear from some poultry judges or organizers on this subject..

 

[monarc23]

sadly, tattooing birds wouldn't do much good unless the birds were checked in and out via them. Ear tattoos do nothing to save rabbits from being stolen at shows

.

 

[Firefly1v]

I am so sorry to hear about this. We quit showing our birds because of this. We zip tied or locked the cages when we couldn't watch them. My friends and I took turns standing guard at one show. Others did not and several birds went missing. My girlfriend did a show out of state without me and lost one of her buff silkie hens. She no longer shows now either.

Good luck finding her...

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I'm sssooo sorry!

That is the ONE thing that is keeping me from wanting to show my birds--I'd be paranoid about leaving them anywhere! Especially since some of those shows require you to leave them there, overnight! I'd be bringing the diapers & sneaking them to my hotel!