UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!! Please Help!!!!!!!!!!! Chickens Murdered in DeBary Florida!!!!!

[DeBaryDowns]

I have actually been to the Hart's home. while their coop is not appealing to they eye, they have an enclosed fenced in area with buried chicken wire to prevent digging, the top is also protected by fencing, then the chickens sleep inside a hen house at night, solid and protected by all four walls with a shingled roof. It's clean, doesn't stink and the chickens are not loud at all. i was there for nearly two hours last week and the only way i knew they were there is because they were eating bugs in the yard. it is amazing to see their little boy JJ with the chickens too. he LOVES them and I hope that we can do something to save his "ducks".

 

[DeBaryDowns]

Just because a doctor prescribes marijuana, doesn't make it legal to grow it ! I seriously doubt that a doctor would suggest a "Chicken" specifically. Sounds like the parents wanted and got the chickens and then noticed the 2 year old's reaction to it ! My grandson is artistic also, so don't think I don't know what I am talking about, but I would MOVE elsewhere if it would help my child. I would not just break the law, as if I was more entitled , than anyone else in the town. What Heartless Parents !!! That poor little boy !!!

First of all, it is AUTISTIC not artistic. You are comparing marijuana to chickens? WOW. Yes, the Harts should just pack up and move their family of five because this economy is soooooo great and it's easy to move. They are good people and you should really do our research before you judge anyone. You are just another example of someone who believes what they want regardless of the facts.

 

[Bulldogma]

OK - so what I'm understanding from the news stories as well as the input on this thread is:

1. Chickens were not technically illegal when the family got them. The law only recently changed to outlaw them in that town.
2. It sounds like the beheaded chickens had been put up in the coop and locked in. In the morning something different was in front of the coop door - a board and some bricks? Am I understanding this correctly?

It would take one heck of a smart raccoon to shut the rest of the chickens into the coop when they were done with their slaughter. If humans killed the chickens and left the bodies and heads behind, it is not unreasonable to think a neighborhood cat or raccoon would have chewed on the remains after the fact.

Now then - if the coop door was not put back differently than it was left the night before, I would say a raccoon was responsible for the killing. (Perhaps JJ's father can clear this up for us.)

I doubt JJ's doctor prescribed chickens specifically but probably suggested a "pet" would help the child. As chickens were not illegal at the time, the family got chickens.

Any argument about knowing or being related to an autistic child making someone an authority on autism in general is invalid. If you have met one autistic child, you have met one autistic child. They are all different.

As for the argument that the family should "just move," - also invalid. In this economy houses are not selling. Period. It could take over a year to sell a house (I am currently living in the most beautiful house that has been on the market for more than 3 years). Just because a family has an autistic child does not mean they are wealthy and able to just pick up and move, regardless of the downturn of the housing market.

The other problem with "just move" is that any change at all in an autistic child's life can turn the whole family upside down for a long time. Autistic people (in general) rely heavily on set schedules, set ways of doing things, and daily sameness. Change is very upsetting - and the fallout can last months. (Going through that right now with my own daughter.)

In short, before weighing in with harsh opinions, I would highly suggest people ask questions and get all the available information prior to making a suggestion. Asking questions before "throwing it all out there" is not a sign of weakness, but of intelligence.

Just my 5 cents.

 

[cluck-cluck]

Any argument about knowing or being related to an autistic child making someone an authority on autism in general is invalid. If you have met one autistic child, you have met one autistic child. They are all different.

Thank you, well put! Our son is autistic and you are quite correct! It's nice to hear the message is getting across. Either you have someone close to you who is autistic, or you've shown an interest in the problem, either way, I thank you for understanding. Nothing worse than the poor mothers that have to go out in public with their child to take care of business (whatever that may be) and have to endure people telling them what horrible mothers they are because their child is "acting up". People that don't know what the *&^% they're talking about.

And that's the most public display of anger I have ever shown on the subject, hope it's out of my system now

 

[Bulldogma]

Thank you, well put! Our son is autistic and you are quite correct! It's nice to hear the message is getting across. Either you have someone close to you who is autistic, or you've shown an interest in the problem, either way, I thank you for understanding. Nothing worse than the poor mothers that have to go out in public with their child to take care of business (whatever that may be) and have to endure people telling them what horrible mothers they are because their child is "acting up". People that don't know what the *&^% they're talking about.

And that's the most public display of anger I have ever shown on the subject, hope it's out of my system now

My daughter and I both have Asperger's syndrome, but we are so very different! I was an easy child, but her OCD behaviors have made life very difficult for all of us. We don't know if she'll ever be fully functional in society... but we keep hoping! And for the record, while we have cats and a dog, the chickens have made the biggest impact on her life. It's amazing really! The first time she ever showed empathy was toward her chicken... who is now a rooster and who is currently watching a Barbie movie in the play room.

Yeah - we ARE that family at WalMart everyone stares at!

My personal blog: http://adasperdown.blogspot.com/

 

[HiddenChicken]

OK - so what I'm understanding from the news stories as well as the input on this thread is:

1. Chickens were not technically illegal when the family got them. The law only recently changed to outlaw them in that town.
2. It sounds like the beheaded chickens had been put up in the coop and locked in. In the morning something different was in front of the coop door - a board and some bricks? Am I understanding this correctly?

It would take one heck of a smart raccoon to shut the rest of the chickens into the coop when they were done with their slaughter. If humans killed the chickens and left the bodies and heads behind, it is not unreasonable to think a neighborhood cat or raccoon would have chewed on the remains after the fact.

Now then - if the coop door was not put back differently than it was left the night before, I would say a raccoon was responsible for the killing. (Perhaps JJ's father can clear this up for us.)

I doubt JJ's doctor prescribed chickens specifically but probably suggested a "pet" would help the child. As chickens were not illegal at the time, the family got chickens.

Any argument about knowing or being related to an autistic child making someone an authority on autism in general is invalid. If you have met one autistic child, you have met one autistic child. They are all different.

As for the argument that the family should "just move," - also invalid. In this economy houses are not selling. Period. It could take over a year to sell a house (I am currently living in the most beautiful house that has been on the market for more than 3 years). Just because a family has an autistic child does not mean they are wealthy and able to just pick up and move, regardless of the downturn of the housing market.

The other problem with "just move" is that any change at all in an autistic child's life can turn the whole family upside down for a long time. Autistic people (in general) rely heavily on set schedules, set ways of doing things, and daily sameness. Change is very upsetting - and the fallout can last months. (Going through that right now with my own daughter.)

In short, before weighing in with harsh opinions, I would highly suggest people ask questions and get all the available information prior to making a suggestion. Asking questions before "throwing it all out there" is not a sign of weakness, but of intelligence.

Just my 5 cents.

Thanks for this clearing up of the circumstances.... I was unaware of the board and bricks & the coop door being closed up. This does make it sound like humans...

So, if it was indeed humans, I apologize for previous comments I made about the family not wanting to take responsibility for an inadequate fencing issue. If humans did it, I really hope they are caught.

 

[cluck-cluck]

Yah, Bulldogma, we're all on the spectrum here in our family as well. I wish you all luck and lots of love. Remember, please, that autistic people DO have empathy! They just don't have a working theory of mind, that is, they don't "get" the point of view of another person/animal. Don't see it, but CAN learn it. Once learned, which takes a long time to really get, they can be VERY empathetic and caring and loving. This is very different from a sociopath. My son, who was full blown dysfunctional, couldn't speak-flapped, later hurt himself, etc... is a young adult now. He worked super hard to self correct, his father was incredible with him, explaining to him every step of the way why the world he saw as inexplicable was in fact explainable if you took another point of view, Everyone loves him and he's quite social! He learned the skills, in fact, I'd dare say he's more social than NT people (neurotypical). He still lets his hair down around family and close friends and perseverates on subjects he loves, but that's why we love him, right? LOL.

 

[halo]

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Tiffany Teasley‏@Fox35Tiffany​

Debary council introduces new ordinance to create backyard chicken pilot program allowing up to 3 chickens for a $50.00 permit fee #Fox35

 

[Mindychick]

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Tiffany Teasley‏@Fox35Tiffany​

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Debary council introduces new ordinance to create backyard chicken pilot program allowing up to 3 chickens for a $50.00 permit fee #Fox35
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! PROGRESS!!!!!!!!!

 

[chinzilla]

I saw that on the news this morning! Check out central Florida, allowing byc's one city at a time!