[ANHBUC]

Sorry to hear the bad news, do you think they are ready to look after more?  They still have two so they won't be lonely.

[jhub]

Hello Grannie Annie and I'm glad  to hear your dilemma has resolved amicably.

It might still be useful to contact Trading Standards to discover the legal responsibilities you have  to customers and importantly the time frame for them. They might also be able to advise you about the wording and enforceability of a written guarantee.

I only say this as I bought a puppy (I know I know it's a different animal) who developed a jaw problem which in the opinion of a specialist dental vet was inherited.  As domestic pets are covered by 'the sales of goods act'  I recovered the purchase price from the breeder without any problem- luckily the insurance covered the  eventual £2000 of vet's fees.

If I were in your position at the start of your thread I think I would want your customer to take the sick bird to a vet and if, in the vet's opinion, the chicken had a condition that was known to be heritable I would offer a refund. (mind you this is only my opinion)

I feel it's a reflection of your integrity as a breeder that you have shown such concern.
kind regards, Jane

[brick22]

Hi Grannie Annie
Before replacing them with another 2, why don't you go round and check her set-up first before handing the girls over. They may be kept in cramp, unclean conditions, their drinking water may be dirty or food soiled. They could have long grass that the chickens may be eating. It could be something so small that they are not doing correctly which may be causing the hens a bit of stress, you're and expert, you will know straight away if your girls are happy there or not
When I first got my girls I read books for months in advance, when they finally arrived I realised that I still didn't know anything.
Also working with dogs my clients ever only tell me about 10% of the truth when it comes to feeding habits, living conditions, exercise etc, I find by seeing them myself in their own environment normally gives me the answers to many questions

[Helenaj]

GrannieAnnie, if she wants another two is it worth you delivering them to her, even if it's out of your way so that you can check on her setup? It might be something that's she's doing (or more often NOT doing) that may be causing the problem. At least then you can put your mind to rest that it isn't anything indiginous to your birds.

[joyfull]

Grannie Annie doesn't drive so has to rely on others for lifts (even if it is just her oh or me). Besides call me cynical but if somebody knows an expert is going round they would quickly tidy up, and clean up before they get there (and I do know this happens).

[GrannieAnnie]

Joy's right, I can't drive, but even though this young lady's Mum has a car, she always tells me SHE can't drive, so I did deliver the last 3 to her, and I will be delivering the next 2 to her, the next time we are up her way.

I've spoken to her 3 times now today, she listens to what I say and acts on it.  If I hadn't given my Katie Thear book Away about starting with chickens, I'd give it to her!

I asked her about checking for lice and mites, and she said she does handle the birds a lot, although they are still quite flighty.  She had never seen anything before.

Then she called me back after I told her to take some kitchen towel out to the coop, she found some red mite.  That wouldn't have been what killed her chicken, as it went so quickly, but it could have weakened her couldn't it?

I am a little worried about her set up being a bit small for 4, but she said her Dad has made it all bigger, and once the girls stop being quite so flighty, she wants to let them free range the garden, which is a fair size, during the day when she's around.

After finding the mites, she's gone off up to Pets at Home to see if they have poultryshield and diatom, or anything similar, and will give the coop a really good sorting out.

So she is listening to what I say, and hopefully she won't lose anymore!

Thanks everyone for your help!

[joyfull]

red mite will seriously weaken a bird (I helped a lady out last night with the loan of my brooder box and lamp after her broody died leaving a solitary chick alive - she then found a serious colony of red mite in her coop) so if it is weakened and has a heart problem it won't take much to have a bad effect 

[GrannieAnnie]

Mmmmm, that's what I thought!  Hope the others will be fine.  No one else has said any of the others have died, so hope its just the one!

The white girls started to lay the day before they were 18 weeks, and now we had the first brown egg from the Browns today!

[joyfull]

heart problems can happen to any bird - I have the appenzeller who has a dodgy heart - her foot swells up periodically and then the other week she had the stroke but with some tlc and isolation she has made a full recovery.

[GrannieAnnie]

I know Joy, she is a credit to your tlc!!! 

[joyfull]

just a little bit of common sense really 

[jhub]

just a thought- does 'Omlet' have any members running 'basic chicken keeping courses' in her area. They are very good value for money for an inexperienced chooker.

[ManicMum]

Is it worth tactfully pointing her towards this forum?

It might give her somewhere to look other than to you - although I think she was right to come to you in the first place as guru as well as supplier!

[GrannieAnnie]

lol MM, thanks for that!  If I steer her here, I'll have to delete this whole post, she may realise who we're talking about!   

[jhub]

lol MM, thanks for that!  If I steer her here, I'll have to delete this whole post, she may realise who we're talking about!   

she might already be here.....cue x-files music