I'm in love and I'm sad too.

[Dutchie]

Well as many of you know I was eagering awaiting the arrival of my chickens yesterday. The company said that they should arrive at around 11 am.
Well I sat and waited and waited and waited.
Finally at around 3 pm the guy arrived with the chickens and the coop.
He had been driving around the entire day (from 7 am) with my babies in the van.
Yesterday was also the hottest day of the year. It was a normal van with no airco or anything.

The first thing that I did was ask him what he was thinking by driving around the entire day with my animals in his truck (no, he hadn't gone back for them they had been in the van the ENTIRE day with no food or (more importantly) water.

To cut a LONG story short, everything was unpacked and set out ready for the ladies when he asked for some water since one of the ladies was a little drowsy - DROWSY - she was dying in front of my eyes.
He said that she would come too in a couple of minutes. I laid her in the shade and tried to encourage her to drink some. To no avail, she died in front of me.
To put it mildly - I WAS LIVID. How *DARE* he treat any animal like this. I stayed calm but he felt my words since when I am VERY angry I become very calm and at the same time there is NO mistaking my feelings.
His boss will be calling us tomorrow (today is a national holiday for some businesses) for a solution.

However, I have installed the other 3 chickens and I (and Dh) are in LOVE!! I have the most silly and beautiful and wonderful chickens in the world and believe me they will be getting a good life with us.
They keep watching us with a look on their faces like - 'who the he## are you and where are we'?

We have decided that the coop that we bought for them is much too small (although it is advertised that it is suitable for at least 6 chickens). So we are looking at options in our yard to give them a LOT of running space and give them the life that they deserve.

Something that gives the idea of how much dh loves these chickens. When he came home from work yesterday evening he found me sitting in front of the coop just watching our babies. He said to leave them alone since they had to 'get used to us' and 'recover from the stress of the journey'.
An hour later I didn't know where dh was. I found him sitting in front of the chicken coop watching our little ones. They were lonely he said and he wanted to see that they were ok since they must miss their friend.

Any how, we are in love with our chickens.
And btw - the boss of the company who sold us the chickens will be getting an earful on Sat.

[mauimagic]

I am so glad that your chickens arrived - cannot believe how they were treated. I know that you will handle it perfectly when have have chance to talk with the right people at the company. There is no excuse for that treatment!!

Need to have pictures of you all together with your new little ones!! Oh the adventures you will be having!! So glad that you will be sharing them with us!!

[Linus]

OMG! I'm glad you got your chickens but wow on the one that passed. Isn't that animal cruelty to drive around like that without checking on them??

[frugalwarrior2]

That makes me mad. Too bad phones for directions weren't invented. I hope you get lots of fun and amusement from the rest. I see the writing on the wall. Egg chickens not for eating. And then hundreds as pets.lol.

[Ceashels]

How bittersweet. It could have been much worse though and talking to the boss should make a difference because this is the type of reputation they do NOT want.

Hugs to you and Congratulations to you and the little ones.

[Lady_V]

Chicken Shawl Pattern

I had seen this last night while roaming Ravelry... and when I read this, I had to share!

Congrats on your new additions!

[IntlMom]

for the little that died....

but way too cute that dh was sitting watching them!!

[Debbie-cat]

Wow I would be livid as well and they would definitely be getting an earful. That poor little one.

Enjoy the ones that survived. I am sure they will be spoiled rotten and will give you much enjoyment.

[baxjul]

I'm so glad that you got your chickens! I'm sorry for the loss of the little one. How sweet that your dh was out there so they wouldn't be lonely.

[Missy]

I'd be mad as a ....well, as a wet hen had my birds been brought like that too. Drowsy my butt! I am so sorry it happened, and I hope you get resolution with your boss. It's so sad, and what's worse is that it is common place. To so many they are "Just chickens" but to those who favor having a few in our yards, they are pets. Even if people don't see that aspect, they are still a living creature, locked in a vehicle, there is a certain (IMO) moral obligation to make sure those animals are tended to in transportation to keep them safe. Yeah, I'd be mad too....

[frugalfriend]

Congratulations on your new babies, Dutchie! Feel so bad for the little one that didn't make it! I hope you post pictures, I'd love to see them!

[Rebookie]

That hurts me so bad to think a poor animal suffered when she could of had a wonderful life. =~(

[Liane]

So sorry to hear about your little chick. It is great to hear about how in love you and your DH are with the other chickens. Can not wait to see pictures. Best of luck with them

[Dutchie]

I think that I mentioned before about when I bought the chickens, that the guy was pressing me to give them antibiotics every so often.
When I refused he said that at the very least I *needed* to give them antibiotics after they arrived at my house because the stress of the journey would stop them from laying eggs.

I told him at that time that the chickens in my care had never had antibiotics after a journey and they had also started laying right away (they were all slightly older chickens at that time and had already started laying before we got them).

I really got him in 2 ways (and now 3).
1) I said to him that I had already said that my chickens WOULD NOT BE given antibiotics (plus the subsequent meds against the stomach that they would because of this, WTH ).
2) I reminded him that he had said that possibly a max of only 1 chicken was ready to lay so they could hardly be all too stressed to lay.

And the 3 way came today - we got our first egg.

I love my chickens.
I promise to get a photo taken and posted as soon as possible.

[Greebo]

But what about the conversation with the boss about the dead bird?