New birds are here... pics added

Rhonda · Post by **Rhonda** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 3:51 pm

you can all call me an idiot if you want. Or at least a sucker. They belonged to a little old man in Smiths Falls. He is turning 87 years old this week and getting out to the shed and looking after them has become too much for him. He has retired off the farm and is living with his son in town. Think he is under some pressure to get rid of them.He warned me that a couple of them were moulting " a little bit" and one had a pretty naked bum, but if I didn't want them when I came to see them I didn't have to take them.

So I met up with this sweet old guy. He told me this will be the first time in his life he wont have an animal left to look after......and started to cry!!! We went out to this little backyard shed, he had half of it for his chicken. What an ugly bunch of naked birds. He says he thinks they might have been picking at each other a bit. it is no wonder in the tiny space they are living, not even a roost.If there is a bully there is no way for the other birds to get away. He gave me some red stuff that he has put on them that is supposed to stop picking...but I thought red was the worse thing to use? I will get some Blu Kote tomorrow.

Had a hell of a time trying to catch them. They are like wild animals! He has these runs up high...like rabbit cages and they would hide in the far corner had to hook them with a coat hanger.

We got into the car to come home and before my husband could say a word I said ," I know, just keep quiet. I am an idiot but I felt so sorry for them and for him I could not leave them there." He actually shook his head and said," I know I feel sorry for the old guy." He called us a nice young couple ( we are both in our fifties) when we left and asked us to take care of his girls.

So I have an ugly bunch of wild chickens in my hen house. I told my husband they will be like different birds in a couple of months. At least here they can get away from each other when they need to. Hope they can handle some cold...not heat lamps here!

ross · Post by **ross** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 3:55 pm

Luck guys , your hearts in the right place .

Rhonda · Post by **Rhonda** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 3:57 pm

Even if not my brain!!

ross · Post by **ross** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 4:18 pm

Haha .. I always figure the brain left when the chickens move in lol
Luck

Rhonda · Post by **Rhonda** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 4:22 pm

That's what happened to me!!

Post by **Killerbunny** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 4:54 pm

I'm so pleased you could take them for him. At least you won't have to worry about integrating them with other birds and such. Poor fella, it's best for the birds but it must be tough for him.

Flat Rock Farm · Post by **Flat Rock Farm** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 4:59 pm

Oh I be those hens will look so different in a month or so with some TLC!! I don't blame you I would have taken them too, poor fella it must have been so hard for him to give us his last girls, sucks getting old!!

Maybe you got a good nasty one in the bunch that will kill the weasel! :wink:

Post by **WLLady** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 5:51 pm

congrats!!! (i think!)
hope they get the weasel and teach the weasel a thing or three! sounds like at least one of them may be piss and vinegar if they've been picking....
good luck! i'm sure they'll be totally different birds in a few days!

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 6:07 pm

Glad you did it, that time will eventually come to all of us, if we live long enough and keep birds in to our old age, hope there is a nice Younger couple that will be able to carry on too.
Like FRF and Kathy said, in a month or two they will look brand new and in the meantime you will have an opportunity to find out if the weasel has moved on.

kenya · Post by **kenya** » Tue Feb 16, 2016 2:03 am

Good for you, they'll be fine in a month or so.