[freda]

Has anyone else seen silkies for sale in Gardenlands?  :evil:  I am mad - its very wrong.
In my nearest Gardenlands they have a solitary Silkie cockerel for sale who initially was very vocal when he had 2 hens with him - now he's alone he is in a plastic windowed pen (I'm sure you all know the sort!) on shavings, no roost, his feathers are dull, he's hunched up in the corner and no longer crowing.
I am absolutely disgusted and so mad my mum has written a letter of complaint to the shop. How can they do this to a creature that needs daylight and freedom? It makes me sick!
What else do you think we can do?  :?:  :?:  :?:  :cry:  :cry:  :?:  :?:

[Bodger]

Spring him !

[GrannieAnnie]

Our nearest Garden Centre started to have a few hens in one of those small house within a run things, but it was inside the pet section and during the hottest part of the summer.  We complained because they had no water, they'd knocked it over, but it must have been quite a while before we saw them as there was no water on the floor.

We also said they shouldn't be kept in a hot shop area, and now they have them outside, but they are still too cramped and much too expensive!!!

Just more people jumping on the bandwagon I'm afraid Freda!!

[freda]

I jst can't get my head around the mentality of these people out to exploit animals for the sake of a quick buck - more fool the people who buy this way I say and yes they are also overpriced.
Do you know I did say to mum I'd go and get him but I think my girls would be none too happy nor my neighbours too.    

[raeburg]

They have them in our local garden centre, some are outside in a nice big run and coop, but there were some pekins in the main shop.  £30 a pair.

[richyrich7]

Not much of a fan of the RSPCA but you could give them a try, animal in distress.

[Foxy]

poor little guy, how much were they asking for him? usually cockerels are free to a good home.....

yeh lets spring him!!!!    

[raeburg]

I'm sure my girls would love a boy friend, but the neighbours, alas, wouldn't.

[karlooben]

i have noticed this in my local nottcuts centre  , about a month before Christmas they had one hen left { dont know her breed } but she was all on her own an looking very sad i was going to buy her as i felt so srry for her  but when i phoned up they had more birds in so she wasnt alone anymore .

[tam]

Pet shops are licensed for animals by the local council - try contacting them and complaining, they should go out and inspect.

Tam

[nnbreeder]

Here Silkies of good quality are very expensive, take a look at this auction on Eggbid. But look fast as the link will be lost in a day or so.

http://www.eggbid.com/listings/details/index.cfm?itemnum=1231471540

[Porffor]

reminds me of a conversation with a neighbour last summer, about the 'old days' (she's in her 70's) when everyone had chooks and a pig in their back garden.. you can guess what both were for.  

Seriously though I reckon this will be a 'fad' of people keeping their own chooks etc more as times are getting harder people are adjusting financially and ethically.

lets hope it's all done well for the chickens sakes though.

[too many girls]

Here Silkies of good quality are very expensive

crumbs, you could take a weeks holiday over here, pick up a couple of silkies, and be back at home for that price.................