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Nina Katrine Dahl-Klepsvik hasn't added a story.
Last summer I agreed to look after four hens and one rooster for my
landlords as they were going away for a year.
I quickly realized
going into the coop that these chickens where not cared for in any
responsible manner. The coop was covered in thick layers of feces and
the ammonia smell was so strong it stung my eyes and I was completely
unable to breath in there, even just staying there for a few seconds
was difficult. Chickens respiratory systems are very sensitive, way
more sensitive than humans, so one can only imagine how this must have
been for them, living inside a coop this dirty. Since we are living in
a cold climate, they are literarily cooped up in there at least six
months out of the year too, with no opportunity to go outside. Keeping
good hygiene is also important to prevent a wide range of diseases
such as Marek’s disease, mycoplasma, respiratory viruses, E.coli,
mites, and more.
Also, the only water supply they had available
was green with algae and slimy.
Before these chickens ‘owners’ left, I constantly heard about
how the rooster in the flock was aggressive, and that he would attack
people all the time. And the hens were very obviously nervous. I’ve
also witnessed hens being shaken out of their nesting boxes in order
to take their eggs away.
The first thing I had to do in the coop was clean it out. But
before I could even start to think of cleaning I had three full days
of chopping thick layers of hardened feces that covered the whole
coop, with the metal part of an axe to get down to the surfaces and be
able to start cleaning.
As the year has passed, yours truly and these chickens formed a
very strong bond. The rooster changed completely from being an
aggressive rooster, to being a happy, friendly boy who loved more than
anything to sit on my arm and being petted. The hens went from being
scared to trusting, and they too, enjoy a good petting. One of them
would even come over on her own accord to sit on my shoulder as a
bedtime ritual every single evening.
During this time, some of the chickens have been in need of
medical attention, and then I have taken them to the vet and payed for
all of it myself, I never asked for any compensation from the
‘owners’. (A little more than 1600 USD in veterinarian bills).
When the year was over, the owners came home, and instead of
thanking me, they decided to yell at me for having taken the chickens
to the vet (again, paying for it out of my own pocket), rather than
letting them die, or let someone in their family kill them. They
threatened to kill the rooster, who is perfectly healthy and yelled at
me for having taken sick chickens into the house to nurture them well
there. (Even though three out of four times, they did know about it at
the time and then said nothing).
Once again the coop is filled with feces, even though I now
know that they are informed about the dangers, and the rooster is back
to being aggressive towards people, he is obviously feeling very
frustrated and this is the only way for him to express it. I’m no
longer allowed any contact with the chickens, but the chickens will
still come running towards me as soon as they see me, in stark
contrast to their behavior when they see their real ‘owners’ who they
run away and try to hide from.
This situation is one of great heartbreak to me, who love these
chickens so much. I have been able to find a new place to live, and my
new, soon to be landlords have agreed to let me keep the chickens
there, if I am able to get them out from where they are now. Which is
why I want to attempt to buy them out, and offer the ‘owners’ enough
money for these chickens so they won’t refuse it. I already know that
these people are willing to do a lot for money. I recently discovered
what I have been suspecting for a long time, that they have scammed me
into paying for their electricity as well as my own on my electricity
bill, so weather it’s with animals or other people these are truly bad
and unconscionable people all around.
But since having spent so much money on veterinarian bills
lately and also, now having to move, I am pretty strapped for money. I
need enough to get the chickens out of here, so they can be safe and
cared for in an environment where they’re lives aren’t repeatedly
threatened. I also money in order to make a new coop for them at my
new address. Is there anyone out there willing to help me?
Also, should this plan backfire, or should I end up with more
money than I need to make this happen, I will divide the (excess)
money and donate them on to Happy hen chicken rescue and Hen Harbor,
both charitable organizations who work tirelessly every day to rescue
chickens in need. Either way, every last dime that comes out of this
fundraiser will benefit chickens who need it.
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