Who adopts chickens - need answer fast

I’m in property management. I just did a move out today. The asshole tenants left a chicken in a small cage in the backyard with no food and very dirty water. The one next to it had already died. The animal shelter is closed today.

Need help with suggestions on who to call?

Ahh..Congrats: looks like you’re a new mother. At least til the shelter opens. I wouldn’t expect them to just take the bird.

Usually to surrender animals there’s a nominal fee. Plus they may not have the facilities.

You might call Vets offices. You could just get a chicken lover or someone who knows one. Good luck

That poor bird.

Agree with @Beckdawrek that you’ll have to at a minimum wait until the shelter opens.

Keep it warm, make sure it has bedding, food and water until you can contact someone. Just a light bulb will be enough for warmth.

I think your best bet for a quick response would be to advertise it on your local Next Door or Craigslist. Someone will probably be willing to take it.

Oh yes. There are people who will drive a distance to come get a healthy bird.

Does it look sick?

Surprisingly, it looks relatively healthy. I’ve got it comfortable for now. I don’t mind paying a pick up fee.

I don’t care who takes it as long as they convince me they have it’s best interest in mind. Something I’m not sure could happen with Craigslist,

Yes, I’m fuming at those people.

Oh, I agree you need to make it clear what you expect from the person giving it a home. Otherwise, it will end up on a dinner plate.

Well, chickens are often eaten. I doubt any one in the suburbs would be willing to butcher one. It’s very unpleasant. Not as long as Kroger has chicken for sale.

My problem would be dog fighters and cock fighters coming to grab it. (Dog fighters use live chickens to bait dogs)

there are people who enjoy having backyard chickens. a friend of mine has a lovely, very spoiled flock.

check with vets.

I loved my hens. They are all retired old biddies now. All noise, no eggs :expressionless_face:

But it’s ok. I gave them a promise I would do my best by them.

But there are also evil assholes in the world who do criminal things with free animals off Craigslist.

FWIW, the last time (and only time) something like this happened to me, I called a friend who had backyard chickens to ask for advice, and he adopted the foundling.

Actually one of my best friends found the chicken wandering the road, looking very emaciated. The friend called me for help. I then called the friend with chickens. The finder had tried all the local bird and animal sanctuaries with no success.

Good luck to you!

I know that in Cleveland, residents are allowed to keep chickens, but I think that there’s some paperwork to get a permit for it. If your locality has similar paperwork, there might be some office who has a list of registered chicken-owners nearby, any of whom would likely to be happy to get a free bird added to their flock.

Then again, that paperwork also specifies a maximum number of chickens allowed (it depends on the size of the lot), and most owners are probably already at their maximum.

Facebook chicken groups are probably your best bet. I guess Cleveland was mentioned so I will post these groups:

Ohio Chicken Swap https://www.facebook.com/groups/128571680657908

Cleveland Heights Chicken Keepers (and friends) https://www.facebook.com/groups/ClevelandHeightsChickens

I only mentioned Cleveland because that’s the place that I know. I have no idea where the OP is.

But yeah, there are likely to be Facebook groups for his location, too.

Call the farm stores in your area and ask if they know anyone who will take the chicken. In some cases, the store itself sells chickens and might add it to their own inventory.

I didn’t know chickens could type, or do they just hunt & peck?

I saw one at the County fair who could play piano. So yeah, typing is a possibility.

Also saw a creepy two headed snake, but I digress….

{groan}

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. Due to that, I was able to get the poor thing rescued.

Again, thanks

Yay! Fredricka the feathered friend is home. Among her kin, I hope.

Good job, @Lucas_Jackson

That’s hiss-terical! but two heads are better than one.