The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Marketplace => Topic started by: Slavo on August 07, 2013, 07:03:11 pm
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Hello there,
I have 8 chickens. Of which, 1 is a Light Sussex, 1 is an Amber Star and the remaining 6 are the standard brown ones (I never did find out what specific breed they were).
The story goes like this:
Became interested in keeping some chickens and got 4. Enjoy it, started sharing the eggs and before long, there was such great demand amongst my friends that we decided to get 4 more. All 8 of these came from a farm in Lydney, Gloucestershire from a farmer only known as "John the Chicken man". These have been fantastic and 6 of them still live today and are 2.5 and 3 years old.
After a year or so of keeping these 8, I, mistakenly and never again bought 2 Light Sussex and 4 Amber Stars at the Royal Welsh showground poultry auction during the Spring Festival (previously named Smallholder's fayre). The 2 survivors are now 2 years old.
Unfortunately, not everybody can be trusted and, of the 2 lots purchased, at least one lot were ill but showed no signs for over a week by which time it was too late. After a couple of weeks, I noticed that the chickens started to cough and wheeze. This coughing was noticed amongst all of the chickens and went on for quite some time, a couple of them developed a swollen eye and we even lost some.
It is for this reason I refuse to allow these chickens to go to a place where there are other chickens that may become infected by whatever it is these chickens may (or may not) be carrying. It is not worth the risk and I would not wish that risk upon anyone.
They are still laying regularly, though admitedly, not as frequently as previously and I don't think the Amber Star has laid an egg for quite a while but does occaisionally surprise us with one. We believe this is down to her being at the bottom of the pecking order.
I have some other stipulations too: The Light Sussex and Amber Star must go together (as I believe they get along).
Of the others, you may be collected in pairs only, as many as you like so that they have company.
The reason for getting rid is I am currently in the process of selling my urban house to move to a rural area where I can keep more animals but do not want to take these with me for the same reasons discussed above.
Whilst I would never cause harm to any animal (other than dispatching), these are not my pets so they hold no place in my heart.
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It sounds like a simple dose of tylan is needed. This will hopefully clear up any underlying infection. It is quite simple to use by adding to their drinking water.
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Whilst I would never cause harm to any animal (other than dispatching),
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So why don't you try some basic treatment on them as mojocafa suggests instead of trying to offload sick livestock onto people who might not have the experience to manage them?
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Please understand that they are no longer sick. I am merely being precautionary in case they could now be carriers of whatever it was that affected them. They were ill approximately 2 years ago.
Thankyou for your interest, though.
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Personally I think that your honesty is great! Some people can be very judgemental, bordering on rude without being to concerned with checking all the facts! If i was closer i would happily take you chucks! Hope you find nice homes for them :)
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It sounds like a simple dose of tylan is needed. This will hopefully clear up any underlying infection.
Oh I SO wish that were the case. Unfortunately if it is M.G. (for which the treatment is Tylan), there is a very good chance they will remain carriers even if treated and even though they show no symptoms themselves.
I'd certainly take these chooks if I only had room for a few and kept no other birds. It's certainly better for them than the alternative!
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I would take some too, but unfortunately have 8 girls already. I am just over the 2nd Severn Bridge from you, so would have been ideal. Shame. Hope you find a good home for them.
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They need sorting and will take a month to sort .i think it has been going on for to long I would worm them then tylin for 3 weeks and feed with treats dog food mash etc .They should be fine.
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Unfortunately they will be life long carriers so best to rehome where no other birds live.
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I think your consideration of other poultry keepers and honesty is admirable. Hope you find good homes for them.
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They need sorting and will take a month to sort .i think it has been going on for to long I would worm them then tylin for 3 weeks and feed with treats dog food mash etc .They should be fine.
They are fine. The birds are all healthy, though the Amber Star is looking a little beat up as she is so flighty and the other birds take advantage of this and bully her a little.
My chickens are wormed annually using flubenvet in their food and some ACV in their water from time to time, so this is not required but would be the prerogative of the new owners.
Please be under no illusion, these birds have not been mistreated. We are expecting a baby and must move house as there is simply not enough room here. I want to take this opportunity to move to a more rural area and start fresh with new chickens and no risk of infection from my current birds.
I have learned from my mistake and will now take the utmost care when selecting a source for my livestock and wish to ensure the same care is taken when offering my chickens.
Unfortunately they will be life long carriers so best to rehome where no other birds live.
This is my concern and I agree wholeheartedly.
Thanks to all of you who've given kind words and those who've considered taking them on.
I can provide photographs for anyone who is interested.
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I think I know who you bought from, if I'm right they still go to the smallholder show and come to my local poultry auction - they also sold me poorly 'light Sussex' , poorly marked, all snotty and coughing, a few years back when I was new to keeping stock. Horrid people, I can't believe they still trade so widely. I only have a couple of their chickens left now and have changed/reduced the chickens I keep but hadn't considered the long term effect of being carriers although I was careful about not passing their illness onto the rest of the flock at the time...:(
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We live and learn.
These birds have now been rehomed. Thanks to all who've shown interest.