chicken sanctuary

February 24, 2009

hi just a few lines to all those out ther who read about me on forum i run chicken sanctuary in cannock staffs rehoming ex batts sombody on forum phoned me about ex batts did not like me ex planation of me charging £3 per bird thought i was doggy because i run garage phoned rspca about me geuse what rspca gave me visit gave me once over visit ed 3 times one week could not find fault said did not know why they phoned if not seen me but gues what im rspca reg /defra reg always clean my shed twice week not mistreat birds now the reasons why i charge for birds 1 i buy birds /2 i keep my birds at least a month before rehoming 1 to make sure birds are fit to go ie no stress /2 feed birds with vitamins /3get birds used to peaple and my grandchildren as thesse birds have never been outside cages /4 when birds go im sure all birds are suitable where children are about /ie birds will sit on arm feed out of hand follow you around ive sucsesfully rehomed 230 birds last two months no complaints yet all this takes money my money out own pocket so sure i should get somthing back towards cost i think im not profettering as someone acusedme of just trying to make a better life for ex batts i think im allowed that for what i do not proffiting for money reasons all this is my money to keep going rescueing ex batts no donations just my money alone

SAB · February 24, 2009

Sounds like you are doing great work and there was much soul searching on the forum over the issue of RSPCA visit. As a rescuer I am sure you will agree that better to be safe than sorry and that if someone is above board that should show up on RSPCA visit. Nonetheless, must have been unpleasant for you. For those of us who have adopted animals from places that do home visits (and for those of us who have adopted children from social work) we are well aware how intrusive and stressful such inspections can be, necessary though they are.

There are some people out there profiting from ex-batts, but it would seem you are not one of them - indeed from what you have said, it is likely you end up out of pocket. From my memory of the initial posting, which raised concern, it was not so much the money but that you were perceived as negative and dismissive to BHWT that had raised concern and over the telephone (and indeed on forums like this) things can come across differently from what they might do face to face.

In your upset, and possible anger, please remember that the concerns were raised by likeminded individuals who also care about the plight of battery hens. Similarly, anyone reading this who feels guilty about involving/suggesting involving RSPCA, please remember that your concerns were ultimately the same as the person the RSPCA visited - the welfare of these already needy chickens.

February 24, 2009

hi i agree but my concern forwas ive known peaple rehoming birds from places like thesse to find birds dying on then i know iv had it happen for no reason not con deming them at all they do good job rehoming but my birds are kept one month knowing if any die they die on me not on rehomers less stess for rehomer finding birds dead one morning is distressing at least put peaple of rehoming ex batts 230 rehomed non dying as i know as tell peaple to let us knowand ill replace with pleasure as i said do not comdem bhwt in any shape or form

SAB · February 25, 2009

i said do not comdem bhwt in any shape or form

I am sure that people will be pleased that you have come on to this forum and clarified this. Keep up your good work - I hope you will stay on the forum as there are a lot of ex-batt owners here and I am sure the vast experience you have of them, particularly related to health issues soon after rescue, would be invaluable to us all.

Egluntyne · February 25, 2009

Welcome to the forum steve and thanks for clearing up any areas of misunderstanding. It sounds as if you are doing sterling work.

I have three exbatts and am very fond of them. Mine were from the BHWT and we are all warned that occasionally they die pretty soon after the rescue, due to stress and maybe underlying poor health. Some of us are happy to take that risk, as even a couple of days of freedom is better than none, but I can understand your rationale about wanting to get them on their way to recovery before they go to their permanent home.

You are lucky that you have enough room to do this. If I had the land, I might be tempted to copy you!

However, as the BHWT and other organisations such as Henrehomers UK rescue hens in such vast numbers, it would be well nigh impossible to give them the months respite before moving them on.

The more hens that are released from imprisonment without charge the better. Thank goodness for the efforts of all those who play their part.

SLK69 · February 25, 2009

Hi Steve,

Sorry to hear you had an unpleasant experience - but on the plus side - you have raised the profile of the sterling work you do on this forum. Everyone who is involved with the work of re-homing ex batts deserves praise for the work they take on.

We rehomed 5 last March and lost one after 6 months - and are constantly aware that ex-batts do not have the same healthy constitution of non-ex batt hens.

Kindest Regards

Susan

February 25, 2009

hi to all those replyed to my thread rspca did visit they gave me ok im prepared to give anyone my reg no if req i aby by the law but aninal welfare act says if anyone makes complaint visit must take place my what a upheavel cheqed &cheqe again but could have refused unless with warrant /defra vgave him access et /police /rspca in attendence but i had nothing to hide all above board when i rescue birds i have to pay for them i do not make proffit in any way or form but rescue ing 200 /300 hens at time cost money i have no sponsers no donations of any kind i do it to rescue them from death many ex batts live for many years laying eggs but older the bird larger eggs no good for farmers eggs to big cant sell to supermarkets so me rescueing birds give them new lease of life so that is why i do it who else but a mad man would i do it for the hell of it so if you know of any secret milioners let them know about me so i can rescue more

thewhitehouse · February 25, 2009

Fantastic work Steve - what you and others like you do is nothing short of wonderful. Thank heavens for people like you who care for poor creatures that get exploited and then discarded like rubbish.

I was one of those who read the original thread and living locally made some enquiries for the worried person. I only heard good stuff about what you do so good on you!

mostin · February 26, 2009

I hope you stay on the forum Steve. Especially if you look around the chicken clinic area where people ask about the health concerns of their chooks, the experiences you have had with ex-batts could probably really help some of us on here looking after these girls who can have quite a few health issues.

I like your idea of socialising the hens with your family while they are with you, I imagine this will be very helpful when rehoming the birds to people who have never had chickens before.

February 26, 2009

hi steve

sounds like a lovely thing you're doing, well done!

I think the lady concerned agonised over whether to phone the rspca and came on here to ask for opinions as to what to do. She didn't do it lightly and without a great deal of thought.

All of us love chickens dearly and ex bats have a special place in our hearts so if I suspected there might be something amiss, i think I would phone the rspca too.

If the person concerned looks after their livestock then they've nothing to worry about have they?

It's also good to know the rspca are doing their job!

sandyhas3chucks · March 1, 2009

just wanted to add my 2 penny worth.

I am really glad the RSPCA went & looked.

I am really glad that they found nothing to worry about.

I am really glad that Steve has made himself & his wonderfiul work known to us.

I am sad that his friend feels so badly/strongly/upet as per the other thread & I hope he has seen that it was done with the best intensions. ie the chooks welfare which surely is all that matters in all this, & I don't understand why he was so upset.

AND FINALLY

I AM SICKENED That the RSPCA & The authorities allow them to be kept in such horrendous conditions in the 1st place & if Steve HAD been found to be keeping them in the manner with which had loosly been called farming. HE would have been prosecuted no doubt.

Yet the likes of Tesco can keep hens in LESS than minimum standards, and that is OK.

Makes my blood boil.

so endith my rant

tara · March 1, 2009

just wanted to add my 2 penny worth.
I am really glad the RSPCA went & looked.

I am really glad that they found nothing to worry about.

I am really glad that Steve has made himself & his wonderfiul work known to us.

I am sad that his friend feels so badly/strongly/upet as per the other thread & I hope he has seen that it was done with the best intensions. ie the chooks welfare which surely is all that matters in all this, & I don't understand why he was so upset.

AND FINALLY

I AM SICKENED That the RSPCA & The authorities allow them to be kept in such horrendous conditions in the 1st place & if Steve HAD been found to be keeping them in the manner with which had loosly been called farming. HE would have been prosecuted no doubt.

Yet the likes of Tesco can keep hens in LESS than minimum standards, and that is OK.

Makes my blood boil.

so endith my rant

What a really good point Steve you stay on here as you may also over time find loving homes for your girls.I wish l had the room to do what your doing.YOU ARE A LOVELY MAN 1 IN A MILLION please stay on here and help other people with health issues with there hens

March 1, 2009

to all those concerned i will be onforum i will be rehoming ex batts for a long time yet rspca did not woory me it was the way it was done not bu phone call but by rspca gestapo but all well ends well awaiting new stock to rehome but wiil be allowed to recouperate be fore sale i never make any proffit with what i do i must be insane but who gives a heck its the birds welfare we think about not money so if anybody knows of any secret milionares give me a ring as i could do with a bit of dosh

SAB · March 1, 2009

I AM SICKENED That the RSPCA & The authorities allow them to be kept in such horrendous conditions in the 1st place

Fantastic point

March 1, 2009

hi so lets all get behind us and get with what we do rehoming birds for a better life hoping to rehome lots/lots of ex batts but remember im insane as people tell me but who cares when your insane