- Jan 9, 2013
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I'm chicken sitting for a friend. Chickens are at my house. It is a temporary situation.
As I've been handling the newbies, I've noticed many of them are missing ALL their breast feathers. One has no tail and her butt looks raw and bloody. Their claws have clumps of feces like a ball-and-chain. Their wings feel "crunchy", they're so dirty, and they stink sooooo bad.
I adopted a few of my sisters chickens and when I got them, they were pretty filthy and they had obviously taken off each other's tails. Since moving in with my flock (last year) they've flourished and are healthy looking again.
From these two experiences....am I just an oddball, having chickens that are fairly clean, don't stink, and just look healthy?? I'm feeling pretty judgy about this, honestly. Not understanding how someone (my sister included!!) can let their animals live in such an inhumane situation. I mean, I'm pretty laissez-faire with my animals but I still make sure they stay healthy, have space, and are clean.
That all said, I'm wondering if I should say something to the friend I'm chicken sitting for? I don't like confrontation and I'm not sure how I could say anything without offending but the condition of these birds...it's appalling. And in the time I keep them they could recover, become healthy, and then what? I return them to a situation where their health will decline again?
So do I say something or mind my own business?
And if I do say something, how do I say it in a loving way without causing offense?
As I've been handling the newbies, I've noticed many of them are missing ALL their breast feathers. One has no tail and her butt looks raw and bloody. Their claws have clumps of feces like a ball-and-chain. Their wings feel "crunchy", they're so dirty, and they stink sooooo bad.
I adopted a few of my sisters chickens and when I got them, they were pretty filthy and they had obviously taken off each other's tails. Since moving in with my flock (last year) they've flourished and are healthy looking again.
From these two experiences....am I just an oddball, having chickens that are fairly clean, don't stink, and just look healthy?? I'm feeling pretty judgy about this, honestly. Not understanding how someone (my sister included!!) can let their animals live in such an inhumane situation. I mean, I'm pretty laissez-faire with my animals but I still make sure they stay healthy, have space, and are clean.
That all said, I'm wondering if I should say something to the friend I'm chicken sitting for? I don't like confrontation and I'm not sure how I could say anything without offending but the condition of these birds...it's appalling. And in the time I keep them they could recover, become healthy, and then what? I return them to a situation where their health will decline again?
So do I say something or mind my own business?
And if I do say something, how do I say it in a loving way without causing offense?