pips_pekins Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 I visited a garden centre today which has chickens and have been left really upset by the lack of care. In one tiny cage 3 orps and about 10 pekins had been left with no food or water. At first I only noticed the lack of water. I waited politely not wishing to cause a scene whilst 3 men were dealing with one customer to let them know but another woman was not so polite and simply shouted at them so they refilled the water. When I pointed out they needed food one of the men said there was enough on the floor of the cage. I said I disagreed and he shouted at me that they had been fed and that if he gave them any more they would be over fed and get fat. I tried to point out that this was not the case if they were only having chicken pellets and not treats but he became quite unpleasant. I am not sure what to do but will be writing to the garden centre to voice my concerns. I tried to ask about how many chickens they have per cage but he just shouted me down. I am really upset and won't be going there again. What would others have done? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 How awful! And what a terrible/idiotic salesperson to treat a customer in that way - doesn't sound like he had any customer service skills. I think writing a letter may make you feel better but not sure what affect it may have, or if you get an outcome you would like I visited a pet shop not long ago which I discovered stocked a brand of food for the chickens I wanted and when I went there I wasn't too impressed with how many chickens were in the runs crammed together. Several quails were also kept in small cages and there were eggs all over the floor. It really upset me and I was also annoyed some sanitser I bought was out of date (including Life Guard only having 2 months until it went out of date). Sadly, if the law says one thing the retail place is doing everything 'right', being fair and treating birds how caring animal owners would doesn't compare Like you, I won't be going back. This was one of the reason I got my chickens from a reputable poultry farm and was willing to travel for it (40 mins in the car). I also will be travelling to buy the majority of my supplies there from now on too. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather_256715 Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 That is disgusting behaviour. Where I live there are no chickens kept in centres like that -thank God- but there is this 'pet hotel' that is just as vile as you described your experience to be. The horrible thing is, this place that I pass everyday, are making people give them their chickens on holidays and things by a bit of persuasion and pictures off google. It is disgusting and the chickens don't even have clean water, they have chicks and the rats just crawl up in broad daylight and take them. I would have probably lost it at those people at your centre. If I were you, I would just write a letter and try and encourage others to do the same. So sad for those poor chicks...Hope they get better. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 No food? No water? I'd be reporting them. I can understand that food may be dished up at certain times and then tidied away, to avoid attracting vermin, but I can think of no circumstance when it would be acceptable for the birds to have no water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheekyPekins Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 I would've probably got into right old trouble with my OH and bought all the chickens there and then! And then worked out how the heck to keep them at my house.... I never said my reaction would be rational.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HH HENS Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 What about reporting them to the RSPCA ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welovemarmite Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 I was at a local garden centre the other week and they were very very crowded. I have to say I didnt k=notice about water, but i think i may go back and check on that. They also have 4 pigs. Not for sale, so no idea why they are there. But they were just together in a small pen on concrete. I didnt think that was very good. They had silkie chicks with a sign saying that you will need a heat lamp if you buy them. Strangely, there they had no heat lamp on them. I will never buy from there. I know someone who does and she has had so many deaths in her chickens. I have been keeping mine the same length of time and have lost two because they went walkabout and didnt come back. So no unexplained deaths at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 I would get in touch with the RSPCA - their involvement is more likely to get a quick result than a letter, I would think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 Disgusting and very upsetting Definitely report them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 It's never pleasant seeing animals treated badly, but, and as much as all the chickens on this site probably live in or close to the lap of luxury, I do think this is an abuse of animal rights, and would report it to the RSPCA. The behaviour of the assistant is probably because he was embarrassed, but this absolutely doesn't excuse it, and shouting at a customer..? That's unforgivable... I would report him too. It's not acceptable... simple as that. You shouldn't feel bad about reporting things like this. For all you know, he does it all the time, and willingly. It might be a one off, in which case he'll get a second chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roselady Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 I would also report them to the RSPCA and also their Head Office re the way you were spoken to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 Appalling Another vote for contacting the RSPCA It's also important to name and shame wherever possible. I know some online forums are worried about libel (far more than they need to be - trust me I'm a media law lecturer!) , but if you belong to any forums where you can get this info into the public domain (facebook or personal blogs perhaps?) then that's important. Am very happy to advise how to phrase things to avoid legal problems It's important just because increasing numbers of people make purchases beginning with a google search - and google will pick up your warnings as well Personally, I just don't buy anything from places like that - and encourage everyone I know to do likewise. Writing to them about animal welfare may or may not have an effect, but pointing out that they will lose your custom and that of everyone you know just might concentrate their minds enough to be effective Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 Last year a garden centre near us ventured into poultry. Whilst they always seemed to have plenty of food and water I was concerned that at 4.30pm on baking hot days ( yes we had a few last year!!) They were herded into wooden houses & shut in with the sun still shining on them and were only let out at opening time the following day. How they didn't suffocate or bake I'll never know. I raised this with the garden centre who said that they had to do this to avoid predator threat & that compared to battery hens their poultry did ok. Grrrrrr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
