Solving Omlet Smart Auto Door Timing Issues with Alexa Routines

[superjules]

Rewind a sec - Goosey, if they had 3 chooks for sale and they'll only sell them in pairs, that leaves one on it's own, surely?! Or am I getting the wrong end of the stick here?

[Goosey Lucy]

I'm hoping he meant they only sell them as a minimum of 2 so would sell 3 together. Hmmm. Wasn't quite quick enough to think of that at the time.

 

Will check when I go back.

[Louise]

Enquire about the cost of a chicken and make it sound as though you are thinking about buying one and see what the assistant says

 

I have stayed out of this as these places make my blood boil due to lack of care full stop you get some good assistants but mostly the animals are not well looked after

 

A vet I know used to work for a practice that covered one of these superstore style places and he said it was horrendous and that was only the stuff he was called in to see most of the small beasties just get culled if they get sick as it is not cost effective to treat them

[Omletina Kyckling]

According to their website, they have a pet centre in the Peterborough store so I'll try to get over there this week to have a look and see what the situation is there. I'll report back once I've been.....

[ajm200]

I'm not a fan of our local Notcutts. Good job for standing up to them

 

I've avoided the pet centre so far as their plants are fairly neglected and the few I have bought have needed lots of TLC. If the animals were as poorly kept as some of the plants I'd probably take pity on them and bring a load home

 

If they have contact details on their website, maybe a note to head office might be a good idea to make sure that the message gets out to all of their pet centres

[Sheilaz]

2 or 3 weeks ago I visited our local Notcutt's and was upset at the hens for sale. In one section there were 12/13 hens in adequate clean space and housing.

But, there was only one food source. I watched for quite a while, went & came back, and there were a couple of chickens (clearly at bottom of pecking order) who were just not getting near. Now, throughout the day, perhaps they get enough food, but they were clearly not having a pleasant time, chased & pecked whenever they went near.

The lowliest had a bald patch which looked like bullying to me, (although could have been from previous mating).

 

My main concern was that they could all be faring much better with 2 or 3 food stations, so I asked for message to be passed on to poultry person.

 

Next time there was a notice explaining the baldness was naturally from mating. No extra food stations. It seems to be mixed corn, not layers food, and I dread to think whether new owners get any advice on anything. They don't sell poultry food at all.

 

Now, I came away thinking I would keep an eye on the poultry & make sure I do actually see the boss if I'm still concerned. But, then I've been ill & realised that I must prioritise about addressing things that I must do, but let go & don't take on extra things that don't have to be my concern!

 

Very difficult to do; part of me wants to sort out every injustice (in the whole world ) but I also know I'll be no good to anyone if I get worn out trying to campaign abouit everything I see.

 

So, I was letting the Notcutt's observation go. Then I read this topic!

 

One Saturday I went back. It was 10.30 & the hens were still shut in the overnight coops!

 

I found a member of staff (asked for poultry person) who was very unconcerned and said that they were just doing the animal feeding rounds.

At 10.50 they were out but still didn't have water beyond a few drops leftover.

 

So, I'll have to go back & find out who is really in charge & what their policy is. They had clearly fed & watered the guineas etc first, but I've no idea if this was a one off or usual practice.

 

I was really upset about this & the lack of concern. There were 2 tanks with 3 dead tropical fish, I didn't even start on that as I had to fetch my daughter.

But, I will go back.

 

In fairness, I should add that I was delighted at the help, knowledge & advice there when I bought a hamster last year, but I haven't seen that staff member since.

 

Shame, our local one had really good plant staff about 30 years ago. Now it's bigger & over commercialised & the plants seem to be a token gesture compared to the rest of the stock.

 

Are poultry & other pets protected at all by welfare rules or anything when sold through shops? I have no idea, beyond obvious ill treatment. To me, not having an opening coop policy for every morning would be ill treatment. I'll have to take this on now won't I?

 

Thanks for posting the topic, it's given me a nudge, though I'm very sad to see this happening.

[hilda-and-evadne]

Next time there was a notice explaining the baldness was naturally from mating. No extra food stations. It seems to be mixed corn, not layers food, and I dread to think whether new owners get any advice on anything. They don't sell poultry food at all. ... Are poultry & other pets protected at all by welfare rules or anything when sold through shops? I have no idea, beyond obvious ill treatment. To me, not having an opening coop policy for every morning would be ill treatment. I'll have to take this on now won't I?

 

Thanks for posting the topic, it's given me a nudge, though I'm very sad to see this happening.

 

Shouldn't the RSPCA be interested in this? Couldn't someone point them at this topic?

 

Notcutts are being incredibly irresponsible - why don't they stick to what they know, viz plants? Persuade a local journalist to write about it?

[hilda-and-evadne]

Notcutts seems to be still run by the family (Notcutts).

 

http://www.notcutts.com/about/history/main3.htm

 

I would suggest going straight to the top - write to the individual members of the family running the company - with complaints and details about the neglect and mismanagement of chickens on sale.

 

Also, Notcutts is a member of the Royal Horticultural Society. It might be worth raising it with the President of the RHS.

[Sheilaz]

Thanks for the ideas, I will take this up. I really want to achieve a positive outcome, not just be another "complaint".

 

You're right, the people at the top need to know what's going on, what matters to their customers and what isn't acceptable.

But, I shall see what progress I can make at the local shop first. It could be that someone there would make changes if it was pointed out to them.

 

Right, I'm on a mission!

[superjules]

Ah, Sheila, there you are. Hope you are over your flu now. I thought of you when I read this thread as I know there's a notcutts on Hatfield road, having previously lived in St Albans.

 

Anyone think it might be time for (at the very least) a letter writing campaign? This is just not on, they seem to be selling these creatures without adequate advice or support and seem unconcerned for their current or future welfare and wellbeing.

 

Can we collate this information into a letter? I'm sure we can find out who to send it to, cc'ing your own local rag, obviously!

 

There's always a downside to everything. This is about an obviously forward-thinking company diversifying because of a public awareness campaign. It's not just joe-public who are "jumping on the chicken-out bandwagon"!

[MedusA]

I may well pop into Notcutts this next week or so Sarah so i will check up to see if they have changed anything.

 

Its mad to think that such a huge store where hundreds of people pass though every day can sell live stock without any background knowledge - it just makes you mad doesnt it!

 

Makes me mad too. I too go to Shirley Notcutts from time to time. I will make a trip to check out the current situation.

 

Thank you for making a stand on behalf of responsible chicken-keepers, Moochoo.

[Egluntyne]

There isn't a branch Oop North otherwise i'd b having a snoop.

 

They make this claim on their website:

 

All animals and fish are fully guaranteed, and a strict code of conduct covering the health and hygiene of the animals is followed within all Pet Centres. All our staff are fully trained, through both a rigorous in-house training programme and study for external qualifications recognized throughout the Pet Centre industry. Our staff come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but all show a love and commitment to animals, which has resulted in our Pet Centres having been voted best "Best Pet Care Centres" by the Pet Care Trust.

 

Doesn't sound like it does it?

[Louise]

Legislation hat time methinks

 

There is no specific laws for pet shops but they do have to abide by the general animal welfare laws which means that the company who are the owners have to make sure the animals are kept in secure and decent accomodation with access to food and drink etc

 

Things have changed a little recently and there is new stuff about veterinary treatment basically you have to get treatment where an animal requires it even if that is only for the animal to be pts as before it was not compulsory and the reason alot of people got away with significant levels of cruelty

 

The staff that work there are employees of the company and are bound by the legislation even though they are not the animals owners

 

Don't waste time trying to get the RSPCA involved a letter to the local paper will work better and be faster

[Helen&Lee]

Well, I have being reading this and getting quite cross - animal welfare sounds like it's being ignored simply because the staff have no idea how to care for chickens

 

I have phoned and have an e-mail address - reception@notcutts.co.uk

The lady on the phone said she would pass on the concerns - I did say I would post a link to this page - what do you think?

 

Helen

[Omletina Kyckling]

I have just been to the Peterborough branch.

 

There were three girls in a smallish run, although bigger than an eglu run in total.

 

They had pellets to eat and also cabbage leaves. One of the pet centre assistants was with them when I was there and was telling the maintenance man that they didn't have a perch in the house and that wasn't good. She was telling him what he would need to find and told him something k"Ooops, word censored!"bly would be better. She was talking to them in a silly voice, congratulating them on eating all their greens. She told him they were 16 weeks old.

 

I asked her about them as if I were interested in buying one, she said that they were £15 each and that she wouldn't sell just one unless you already had chickens - they're not happy on their own. She said she wasn't happy with the size of the run they have and that she'd told their manager to get bantams for that size run. She's planning to extend their run. She said they would be getting in mixed corn and layers pellets for sale in the next week.

 

She seemed quite good, so I came away feeling ok about the Peterborough branch.

[moochoo]

That's great news! At least someone sounds like they know what they're doing.

[Chickvic]

I've visited Notcutts today and they still have no supplies for chickens. They are still selling the chickens and have them in the same runs altho' I did get talking to one lady and recommended Omlet to her!! I also went to Melbicks and they were just building a run for their chickens! It looked similar in size to the one at Notcutts. I saw 2 fluffy white chickens in with a cockerel. At Melbicks they were selling chicken pellets and grit and oyster shell. Both places had books about chickens. We did search at Notcutts to find anyhting else to do with chickens, feed, grit etc. but there was nothing!

[Ziggy]

I tend to stay away from our Notcutts branch nowadays, because we got our cockatiels from them, and while they seemed reasonably helpful and knowledgeable about them, my hubby ended with pneumonia caught from the birds who had psittacosis... those things can happen, but when I contacted them, although they were horrified, they eventually just denied all responsibility because their birds are tested regularly... having talked to vets back then, I found out that the birds would only test positive if actually shedding the virus at the time, not if simply carriers, but most birds (apparently up to 80%) are carriers and can start shedding at any time for any kind of reason... I think the shop should have been aware of that, and take the whole thing more seriously... because of that I don't shop there any longer...

To say that chickens would lay 8 to 10 eggs a week is misleading, even if they mean 'more than one chicken'... the information should be accurate, with an egg per chicken expected production, and also with a clear explanation as to how long chickens go on laying for... or people will get rid of their chooks as soon as they stop laying, and then they shouldn't be sold as 'pets'...

[WitchHazel]

I feel really fed up.

 

We went into Notcutts in Staines today, haven't een there for years. Eventually we got round to there pet section, and I noticed they had some chooks in a pen on one side. The notice said the chicks were too young to be sold.

 

I saw the sign saying 8 to 10 eggs per week, and another one saying what great pets chickens made. I found an assistant and asked about the sign. He told me that chcickens could lay more than 2 or 3 eggs a gday. and went on to say that the signs came from head office. I asked for Head Office's address.

 

He came back with the store manager, who explained to me that Notcutts fon't have a Customer Service department so, whilst he was very happy for me to write to Head Office, my letter would be sent on to him to deal with, Would I like to talk to him about my complaint now?

 

So, I took him over to the sign, and explained that it was misleading. He said he wasn't an expert - in fact he didn't know much about chickens - but he vaguely remembered from his childhood having hens that it was possible for a chicken to lay more than one a day. I explained that even the most prolific hybrids only laid about 300 eggs a year. He said (politely)) he wasn't going to debate it with me but he would talk to his head office.

 

I went on to ask where the chicken keeping stuff was, like food etc. He said they would be getting some corn in. I expressed surprise and said that corn is really a treat for chickens, and that they need chick criums then pgrowers then layers pellets or mash.

 

I asked whether it was something he had decided to do, or was it NOtcutts national policy to sell chickens. He said they were all going to be selling chickens, and I said I was very concerned that they were selling chickens without really having any knowledge.

 

Anyway, he said he would get clarification from his head office and asked if I wanted him to get back to me. Foolishly I said No, I just want to get the problem fixed. I was actually feeling really fed up at this point, and I just needed to leave the store. I didn't look particularly irritated at this point, but I know that if I'd stayed any longer I would have started to get very impatient. TBH, I was also cross with myself for not just pretending to be someone who was interested in buying chooks.

[Lovemychooks]

WitchHazel, I too went to Notcutts in Staines today and saw the chickens (in fact, that's why I stopped there).

 

I asked one of the girls what breed they were, Orpingtons, Barnevelder & Wyandotte (although i'm a bit sceptical about the Wyandotte). I didn't see any food for them but they did have water and a perch but i'm not very happy about them being for sale. I doubt they'll be vaccinated or have any advice for the new owners (I am tempted to get them myself so that I know they'll have a nice place to live).

 

I am going to be sending an email to Notcutts (thanks Helen&Lee) to voice my concerns.

[Martin B]

If you buy them then Notcutts will only restock them and put more hens through the stress.

[Guest]

shame on the breeders that are providing the stock!

[Lovemychooks]

If you buy them then Notcutts will only restock them and put more hens through the stress.

 

I know...I was thinking out loud

[Charlottechicken]

I bought Francesca from Notcutts. I was surprised by the knowledge of the girl who was in charge of the chickens, she was feeding them cabbage as treats when I arrived, and appeared to know all of their different characteristics. Francesca had been named by the staff (they called her Frances) who were very attached to her and she is a well natured chicken. I was asked to provide ID (a note of my driving licence number was made) and sign a livestock agreement. An A4 sheet was stapled to my copy of the agreement, which has all the basics on for chicken keeping. Hand written on the agreement are basic instructions for introducing her to my existing hen and advice not to handle her for 48 hours to let her settle in. Prominently placed on the pet counter was a large pile of chicken keeping books written by two of the Omlet inventors.

 

I don't think I was given the full spiel though as I phoned before I visited, and explained I had just lost a hen and was looking for just one or two rather than three. The girl asked lots of questions over the telephone, and knew that their chickens had not been wormed, but she had recently given them a precautionary mite treatment (they are in a wooden hut). She was also aware of Omlet as I told her I had an Eglu. She was pleased when she found out I let my hens freerange and I had a picture of Bossy on my mobile phone which I showed her and she seemed genuinely interested in the welfare of the chicken she was selling to me. They get more stock in as they sell out I think, as Francesca was in a run on her own, three had been removed to await collection, but I was told more were coming on Monday. I was pleased to have taken her without the trauma of introducing her to more hens next week.

 

Quite honestly, I was pleased to get a replacement chicken without having to go out for the day as Notcutts is a half hour drive for me, although I have never been there before. Not sure I would buy any more from them, but in my emergency situation they were an ideal solution.

[jaylay30]

Hi,

We have a local garden center that isn’t part of a chain and in now selling bantams. They are even selling the cockerels for £15. I'm not sure what their knowledge is. I may try and sound interested. I understand we are all concerned about how much knowledge people have before buying chickens from these places but unfortunately this isn’t any different to people buying rabbits with no knowledge. Our local animal rehoming center (wood green) has notices on display saying Rabbits are the most abused mammal.