I can't believe it's happened again

[Suechooks]

My lovely new girls have been stolen. I'm just devastated. They were beginning to eat from my hand and now they're gone. Locks ripped off despite 4" bolts and heavyweight hasps. Gates left open and fencing ripped off posts.
The b.....ds left my ex-batts so knew exactly what they wanted.
As very few people outside my family circle knew I had them and I'd recently posted on here I can only think that this is being used to locate birds.
Anyway as this is the second time it's happened I'm feeling that I won't be carrying on with chooks. I can't stop crying just now and needed to tell someone. OH is at work and everyone else I know will still be in bed.

[RichmondHens]

Oh Sue, that is just terrible! I don't know what to say, poor poor you. The thought that someone is using this forum to locate birds to steal is rather horrible. Big hugs from me.

[ginger ninger]

So Sorry to hear that.....It dose sound like they new exactly what they we're coming for...I HATE people that think they can just take what ever they want, don't give up though.. big hugs xxx

[Nicos]

Oh dear Sue...that's just awful

What breed were they? edit...I've just seen your thread on the 5 new gals....poor things
..could it have been someone who knows the supplier????

Just a thought...are you SURE it wasn't foxes???

Don't give up- get some more ex-batts if needs be.

xxx

[Hans Mum]

so very sorry Sue, hope the B*****DS get their cumuppence, can't say much else to make it better, [[[[[hugs]]]]

[beulah59]

I'm so sorry

[Aileen35]

So sorry, what is the world coming to. So sorry for you, just unbelievable

[Hilary B]

They must have a 'market' lined up for it to be worth the effort surely? Either that, or they are just plain vindiictive B$%&*$£s who are out to be unpleasant!

[Pumpkin Becki]

This is just dreadful, I'm so sorry Sue. What do the Police say?

[MaureenHall]

Oh Sue!!!!!!!!!!! I want to scream and shout with you!!! That I think is just as devastating as having the foxes take them. Foxes aren't selective though. I hope the bas****s are caught and punished, but being realistic I know they won't be. Please don't give up hun xxxxxxx

ps I can't think how anyone who located birds on here would know your address or where your chooks are kept, isn't that information unavailable? I think you might need to look at the very few people outside your family circle who knew

[Suechooks]

Thanks everyone for your replies.
Nicos - I don't think foxes would break into a hut and then leave the 5 ex-batts there and shut door behind them. Then break into another separate run and rip off the ramp and use a garden fork to rip 4" bolts and heavyweight hasps off the doors and just take the pure breeds leaving the hybrids behind.
Hilary B - yes i think they were taken with a market in mind. Hardly anyone knew they were there though. I just wish I hadn't posted on here last week. I'd decided not to but felt we all deserved some good news!
BilboWaggins - it was from the allotment - the second time its happened.
Police have now been and hold out little hope but are prepared to circulate photos.
I've posted on practical Poultry Stolen Birds forum so may get some response there.
The supplier is an extremely well known and highly reputable breeder in Shropshire and I have absolutely no doubts of their integrity.
I'm angry that folk think they can just take what they want but far more upset that my little girls will be so frightened about what's happening to them. They were just beginning to get confident enough to feed from my hand.
Sue
PS Maureen - I thtink anyone looking to steal pure breeds could use a forum to locate birds - there are only 3 allotment sites in Wrexham amd I have previously mentioned keeping chooks on my allotment and i am the only one with them on our site. It cold be someone i know but I just can't believe the 2 people who would have that knowledge and knew the birds were there would do this to me. But who knows

[julesapple]

Heartbreaking....

.....it's so awful (((((HUGEST HUGS)))))

The thing that sticks in my mind was 'the second time'

It sounds very much like a return visit. The sods knew you had pure breeds from their first visit, and probably thought it worth a return visit and it was more than likely you'd replace them.

Is there no way you can have your pure breeds in your garden?

I am so gutted for you,

Jules

[Bramble-Poultry]

Its Leek market on Saturday you are only about an hour from there - what are we keeping our eyes out for, any rings, ditinguishing features etc?

As for using this forum to locate birds, that is a possibility but you only give a rough location not you actual one! It is also a know fact that someone who has been burgled will usually be so again in under 6 months - this is due to teh fact that the burgulars know where they are coming how to get in and its a certainty that there will be all new stuff to nick - especially in a house burgulary as you get all brand new electricals on the insurance - with livestock they are taking much more of a risk that you will replace it which is probably more where forums like this one come in.

Might be worth contacting leek auctions and the ones around manchester (cos you not far from them either) to let them know what you've had stolen, they may keep their eyes out for you.

[SarzWix]

Sue, I'm so sorry to hear what's happened Big (((hugs)))

And devastated to think that the information may have been picked up from here However, you aren't really giving a lot of info away about your whereabouts on your profile, so I'm not sure how the thieves could have found you from just from that information?
If they're kept on your allotment, presumably all the people on the allotments could have seen them?
And there's always the possibility that the very reputable breeder has an employee who isn't so trustworthy.

Perhaps you could change your location on your profile to 'North Wales', or something a bit less specific than you have now?

And everybody, maybe we should all exercise a bit of caution from now on - please, please, don't stop talking about your girls, but, maybe not draw a verbal map to their whereabouts.

((((hugs)))) again Sue, wish I could do something more...

[Suechooks]

These were the first pure breeds I've ever had. Original theft was over 2 years ago. The first to be stolen were 5 out of 6 hybrids I'd had for about 3 years. I had no others then. they left one behind and she was in the first hut they broke into last night. They left the ex-batts and the hybrids and went to an entirely separate part of the allotment and broke the gate off the run and into the hut with the 5 little girls in leaving the garden fork used as a lever in the run. I was there at 9pm last night and back at 6am this morning. I think they've been watching for me to leave as there are deep holes all over my plot for the foundation tubes of the polytunnel which could cause a nasty fall, so hoping one of them fell and broke a leg!