Distressed and Tearful.

[julesapple]

Oh Bluey!

((((HUGEST HUGEST HUGS))))

I have been near to tears myself reading this (note to self: sort out hormones) I know if all that had happened to me I would be utterly devastated. Don't give up Hun!

I think TwoSheds was right, type it out, share it round. But I would add a bit saying that if anyone on the lottie site has a problem with you, yours, or your plot, please would they step forward and talk about it civily like mature adults. It may be worth trying.

(((((More Hugs)))))

Jules

[lizzylemon]

....word of warning though, if you intend to paint vandal paint on anything put up a sign....as they can sue you for getting it on their clothes (what is the world coming to I ask)

Or you could just counter sue them for trespassing, vandalism, endangering live stock and stealing (might be pushing it on the last one).

Sorry for you and the chooks. Run out of words to express my dismay at others behavior, I really have. Hope that the lads and ladees remain safe from now on.

[kirsty b]

Bluemoon, I'm so sorry you have had to go through this. It must make it worse knowing that it is a fellow plotholder. Hope your chooks recover from the upheaval.

I, for one hope they get a nice fat perianal abscess that either bursts horribly in a public place or can be lanced and cleaned without anaesthetic. (I'm a nasty bugger like that)

[frias]

Don't know what to say Bluemoon. Just glad that all the chickens are OK. I really feel for you. (((((((Big hug))))))

[its hilly]

So sorry to hear this Bluemoon, please dont let it put you off, think of the enjoyment you'd miss. Any way you could borrow a security camera of some sort and hide it? I know that wouldnt stop it happening again, but at least you'd get the rotton sods if it did. And definately agree with anti vandal paint and notices, if its someone off the site knowing they would be marked and show up to the police might just stop them dead.Is it someone who's after your plot? Alternatively who was it that had the vicious cockeral? Stick one in a seperate pen in front of the access to the others and leave him to it.
I know how it makes you feel, the builders from next to my buildings stole the eggs from under my broody hen just a couple of days before they were due to hatch, goodness knows why. I told their boss I'd found out, and threatened to get the police, also told the owner of the barn their working on, who rents me the building. Now Ive got a pair of geese, and take my huge German shepherd with me when I go..they've got the message!!!!

[Hashette]

Bluemoon and Sue, I wish I could think of something helpful to say. How absolutely dreadful.

I'm sitting here feeling shocked, horrified, outraged that even the most mindless moron could do that to you and your lovely, innocent little chooks. I can imagine how worried you are now, but if it's possible then please try not to let them get the better of you. You've made the place secure, you've done all you can to protect them, and the chances are that even if it was an inside job, it wasn't aimed at you personally and they could just as easily have chosen one of the other allotment holders. We'll never understand the mentality of people who behave like that, thankfully.

Like Two Sheds says, tell other allotment owners about it, if only so that they can take the same precautions.

Big hugs to you xx

[Pumpkin Becki]

Bluemoon, was everything okay overnight? You must have been worried sick.

[bluemoon]

I didn't sleep much last night, I have to admit, but this morning everything is fine and it looks like the chooks will have forgotten about it long before we have. It was awful though because usually I open the main gates for OH to drive in, then trot to the plot while he's parking, and this morning I just didn't want to go down there and made him do it and then shout back to me that everything was OK before I went down. It's a shame, one of my favourite parts of the day is early morning when I open the pop-hole doors and they all push and shove to get out, then bustle around trying to undo my bootlaces and trying to see what treats I might have, but this morning there was just a horrible feeling of dread.
I feel much more positive now though. Tomorrow is OH's day off, but because he had yesterday afternoon off he's having to work half the day back, even so he says he will have the chicken houses looking like new by tomorrow night, the chickens are fine so I suppose I should just be grateful. We have since discovered though that certain items are missing - checking thoroughly yesterday wasn't really a priority, and these include a 50 metre roll of chicken wire, the staples for it and a large tupperware tub of oyster shell, I can't see your average vandal stealing those things and it just confirms that the person who did this is not only a member of the lotties, but keeps poultry themselves.
Thank you all so much for your kindness, at least today I'm not thinking of giving up my chooks...but I am thinking of getting a couple of geese!

[Two_Sheds]

We have since discovered though that certain items are missing -... a 50 metre roll of chicken wire, the staples for it and a large tupperware tub of oyster shell

Ah.
Do you suppose they were also trying to steal your chickens, but got disturbed before they finished the job?

[tlck9]

doesnt bear thinking about......

looking on the lighter side (if this is pssible - as I would be going nuts) but a nice pink illuminous stripe would be useful to identify your chucks! can you use those postcode pens on them

perhaps a word of warning to us all, I shall be out later with my postcode pens marking anything that is liftable

[bluemoon]

Ah.
Do you suppose they were also trying to steal your chickens, but got disturbed before they finished the job?

That has occurred to us since.

doesnt bear thinking about......

looking on the lighter side (if this is pssible - as I would be going nuts) but a nice pink illuminous stripe would be useful to identify your chucks! can you use those postcode pens on them

perhaps a word of warning to us all, I shall be out later with my postcode pens marking anything that is liftable

Don't know about postcode pens, but I could perhaps use leg rings? How difficult would it be for someone to remove a ring?

[HeyWayne]

Don't know about postcode pens, but I could perhaps use leg rings? How difficult would it be for someone to remove a ring?

From them, or the chickens?

[MaureenHall]

Don't know about postcode pens, but I could perhaps use leg rings? How difficult would it be for someone to remove a ring?

The leg rings are easy enough to get off, if they're plastic scissors will cut through them otherwise some wire cutters. How about a nice tattoo with your name on

[Pumpkin Becki]

Will vets microchip chickens? I've been pondering this for when I get my Orpies.

[Suechooks]

That has occurred to us since.



Don't know about postcode pens, but I could perhaps use leg rings? How difficult would it be for someone to remove a ring?

There was a good article in Practical Poultry mag last month about this very thing. The woman who wrote it has marked hers with spray enamel paint. I tried emailing her to see how long it lasted and to make sure it didn't poison the chooks if they preened it off but so far (3 weeks or so) I've had no response.
She also wrote her phone number on the primary wing feathers and put rings on them. Its all a matter of inconvenience for the low-life scum to make them harder to pass on quickly.
I tried writing on the feathers but they kept splitting (it was on the ex-batts whose wing feathers have never really come right). I have put rings on all of them too but the "piece de resistance" is the PURPLE BUMS! All have been sprayed with Gentian violet! Looks especially attractive on the Amber link and the Light Sussex! If it keeps them safe I really don't care!