Uncared For Welsummers

[Heidi]

I purchased 5 welsummer pullets via e-mail from a breeder. I picked them up yesterday and was appalled. They are nothing, but skin, bones, and feathers with quite a few of those missing. They smelled like rotting flesh. It took a hour to drive home and by then everyone in the car was sick to their stomaches. I didn't really get a good look at them until I got them home. They also have sores and are scared to death of humans. I can't believe anyone could be so cruel. Today I dusted them in d.e. and put antibotic ointment on their sores. They tried to peck the living day lights out of me. I tried to feed them egg and some corn and they wouldn't even touch it. Good news is they are eating the chick feed and drinking. I put ACV in their water because 2 of them are congested and have clear mucus coming out of their noses. I'm just stunned. I was excited all week about getting them - I paid $40 for them too! Well if they live they will have a really good life now.

 

[speckledhen]

That is disgusting! A BREEDER? That person has no right to call himself/herself a breeder, or even a decent human being. un

 

[rooster-red]

You didn't put them in with your flock did you?

 

[Frozen Feathers]

Poor birds!!

They've probably lived their whole lives in cages...or one cage together! That's how they get sores...that in living in their own poo constantly and having to sleep in it. un

I'd contact animal control in the "breeders" area and have them go check it out....

 

[lurky]

Thats so sad

 

[buckbeak]

Heidi, so sorry! I agree- you should call their animal control? Is it out of line to ask who/where you got them so everyone here can avoid them?
Glad you can give them a better life!
Carol

 

[speckledhen]

I gotta ask the same as rooster-red. They are quarantined, aren't they? I wouldn't have taken them at all and if I had already paid, asked for my money back, then called Animal Control.

 

[Heidi]

NO! I did not put them with my girls. They are in the quarantine coop and they won't be joining them until they are all well and o.k. with me handling them which I'm sure will be over a month. They just turned 4 months which they do look that old. I'm still considering calling someone over in his county and having him checked out. He sells fertilized eggs over egg bid and doesn't have any negative feed back - that's why I felt secure buying these via e-mail. When I picked them up they were in a very small rusty cage in his garage - all 5 of them. He grabbed them by the legs and put them in my box in the back of my suv. I should have know by the way he grabbed them. Specklehen - I really didn't get a good look at them until I got home just over a hour away. If they live they are better off with me and it taught me a valuable lesson.

 

[speckledhen]

Gee, Heidi, I hate to say this, but even if they seem to recover, I myself would not put them in with my flock. Whatever they have can be passed to your birds, even if you seem to make them well. They can be carriers of whatever and your others could become ill. I know people get tired of me being a Kill-Joy, but I just hate to see something happen to your other birds. I know you will treat them like queens, though, and I understand how it can happen, not looking at them. I hope they are just having some allergic reaction to their dirty habitat they came from. Heck, why would a breeder do that to birds? Poor things.

 

[Heidi]

Seriously? Now I don't know what to do - I feel so bad for them. I'm hoping that they were just living in filth and not being feed properly. If that's the case they should be fine, right?