The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: CameronS on February 04, 2010, 08:25:50 pm

Title: Leghorn Bantams
Post by: CameronS on February 04, 2010, 08:25:50 pm
October last year we re homed (or more like rescued) a a trio of Black Leghorn Bantams, consiting of a 2year old male, and two year old female for the sum of £25.
Anyway, i had my doubt's as to the ages about 2weeks after re homing them, when i found really rough legs, with residue or Vaseline on them, and missing toes and twisted spurs, and other generel health complaints, at this point all the birds looked the same, small scabby, underweight and undernourished.
A few months down the line the birds are in tip top condition, except the toes, it has turned out 2 are male and i have had no eggs from the definite "layer" at all!
As this is the first time i have ever been massively "done over" when purchasing hens, what would my next best line of action be, i would feel ashamed selling them on to anyone else, but really can't afford to keep them as at the moment all they are is food thieves.

Any suggestions/advice much appreciated.

Thanks Cameron
Title: Re: Leghorn Bantams
Post by: Roxy on February 04, 2010, 10:20:06 pm
Hmm....sounds like you were conned somewhere along the line.  Not nice .....but I would put it down to experience.  Yes, you could pass them on to someone else, but would you feel bad conning someone else if you sold them as something they are not?  Only thing I can suggest is you try and give them away maybe?
Title: Re: Leghorn Bantams
Post by: ballingall on February 04, 2010, 11:21:14 pm
You said you've had no eggs from the layer, but if she is 2 or over, she might just not be ready to start laying yet. I have bantamn gold pencilled hamburghs, and of my older pair, they stopped laying in about October time, and only one of them has just started to lay again every 2nd day.

Beth