Selling hens in poor condition

[SimonA]

A friend just brought a hen from someone who sells them from a country farm store, they asked me to take a look at her as they are new to keeping chickens. They have a couple of Black Rock's and brought this hen as a third.

I could see straight away that something wasn't right. Comb was over, legs had raised scales. Further inspection showed she was covered in mites, about 3mm long and white/cream coloured. Not just a few, but loads of them. She also smells.

I would never have brought a chicken in such poor condition, but since they are not experienced they didn't know.

Question is, what can be done about this? Would the RSPCA look into it? I'm shocked that someone can be selling hens in such poor condition.

They are taking the hen back for a refund, but I'm very concerned about her welfare, no doubt they will just sell her to the next unsuspecting customer. I wanted to bring her home and nurse her back to health.

[MaureenHall]

I'd certainly have something to say to the shop owner, even going as far as actually showing them the mites on the poor hen. There's no reason apart from infection and dirt why a hen should smell either. I'd ask them to reassure me that all the birds are treated immediately, that all the bedding is destroyed and replaced with fresh, clean and treated bedding, and tell them that I'll pop back in a day or so and if the conditions were still the same I'd have to call the RSPCA. Perhaps the shop owner hasn't any first-hand experience of looking after chickens, but that's no excuse is it

[Suechooks]

RSPCA will only look into it if someone reports it. Either you or your friends need to phone them. They could also try Public Protection at the council local to the seller. Not sure if they have much clout with chooks but our local one recently removed and prosecuted successfully with horses being kept in bad conditions.
I'm sure someone else will be along soon with lots of knowledge about the legal aspects.

[RichmondHens]

There are a lot of unscrupulous breeders out there - beware all newbies to chicken keeping. There are also a lot of people who aren't registered breeders, but just have a surplus of chickens, kept in cramped conditions, and are trying to "lighten the load"/make a fast buck before the winter months. Also, some people, despite having a lot of chickens, don't actually know that much about them, and how to keep them healthy, or just can't be bothered. They have the attitude - "Well they are laying so they must be ok". Then there are those keepers who have no idea that their hens have a problem, eg scaley leg, or lice infestation. (I actually saw some exhibited at a show on the weekend with awful scaley leg and probably lice as they were itching a lot - I just don't understand how people can take them out in that condition.

I agree with you, this hen sounds in a very poor state. Perhaps the RSPCA should be notified so they can look into the general conditions at the farm store. Let's hope they do something about it.

[SimonA]

I'm told this person sells hens on a Saturday from the forecourt of the store. The store themselves say they are not connected in any way with them.

The other odd thing was this was not a young hen, apparently they told my friend she was eight months old. That seems a strange age to be selling them.

[ginger ninger]

Its your call....but i know what i would do, these people need stopping in there tracks, the poor hen can't speak for her self, so its up to someone else to speak up for her, the sad thing about this is that if she's infested with mites, there's a good chance that all the ladies have them as well, the R.S.P.C.A. need to know about such breeders...i don't keep chucks, but there's a lot of grapes that do, and i think feelings will run very high on this subject.

[RichmondHens]

I guess you could alert the RSPCA that this person is there regularly on Saturdays and hope they send someone along this weekend to check.

[SimonA]

I was wondering if the RSPCA would be bothered that they are infested with mites. Obviously it isn't really on to sell them in that condition, but I guess there might not be a lot they can do unless they are being kept in cruel conditions.

If anyone in Northamptonshire is thinking of getting hens, these came from Dodson & Horrell, the animal feed specialists in Ringstead. They are not connected with Dodson & Horrell, but I guess they share the blame for allowing them to sell them on their premises without checking them over.

[TPeers]

Very..... you could put a call into the BHWT - they might know of a batch of hens nearing rescue age that the farmer is selling off. The floppy comb sound like the hen has been 'hothoused'.

[Bramble-Poultry]

Such a shame for the birds but there is little the rspca will do if there is no cruelty involved - the only thing they can do is offer advice, which is then up to the individual to take on or ignore as they choose.

We went to a little smallholding show at the weekend near to my mother in Norfolk and tehre were lots of birds in the show there that were very obviously infested, yet people are showing them in this condition - unbelievable! Also seen them at so called specialist sales in very bad conditions with scaley leg, missing toes and mites - some from so called top breeders, wonder if its just a way to palm off their rubbish on every tom dick and harry that goes to these shows! Its really the fault of teh people who allow them to sell at their venue - if the birds are not fit for sale then they should not be permitted to be sold!

[SarzWix]

I thought it was counted as cruelty to let them be infested with lice/mites and not make any attempt to treat? Or does this only count for domestic animals and not livestock? I'd call them anyway, they can make a decision to act, or not, but only if they know about it!

[RichmondHens]

Hey Bramble - I think we might have gone to the same show - at Sheringham Park? I live not far from there.

[tlck9]

I want to go and buy all their hens and look after them...but that will only mean they will breed more, in the same state

its a sad world when that is the result

(plus I'm not allowed any more....the ark only takes 4!

[kirsty b]

TLC and treatment should see that hen right in time, but the seller should be reported. I couldn't give a hen back to someone who let it get in that condition.
I would personally keep the animal and try to put right the scaley leg and lice, may need several treatments to clear it completely though. May have an infection causing smell, some anti-b's should help with that, although a vets advice would be necessary on that score.

[Bramble-Poultry]

yep it was sheringham park. we had a great day, weather was great even if the dogs got a bit miffed at not winning any classes! (incase you need to know - i had the two Japanese Shiba Inu - "fox like things" with curly tails)

Mother and sister live five minutes away near Holt so we visted them and went to the show. Caused me a great problem now, as the dear other half wants an alpaca.......