concerned about chooks welfare if they get some birds!

Believe you me I have tried to explain about husbandry and conditions to maximise egg production but some folks just don't want to listen! This weekend the inside of the henhouse has been liberally painted with creosote. mmmm lovely smelly conditions for the chickens to live in 24/7! The birds wont be there long, I will get the RSPCA involved as they are obviously intent on going through with this stupid scheme. I have given them every oportunity to research, given web sites, breeders who offer free courses. I now know where they intend to purchase their birds, a local garden centre. I have no idea if this garden centre has a checks policy in place on purchasers of birds. They intend to purchase 12 birds to keep in a shed 4' x 6' with no daylight, run space. The birds will cost them a total of £90.

freebirdy - have you actually told them that what they are planning to do is cruel to the chickens and not something you will stand back and see happen? 

Giving them helpful tips and advice isn't working so maybe you need to just tell them  that you won't let it happen!

Believe you me I have tried to explain about husbandry and conditions to maximise egg production but some folks just don't want to listen! This weekend the inside of the henhouse has been liberally painted with creosote. mmmm lovely smelly conditions for the chickens to live in 24/7! The birds wont be there long, I will get the RSPCA involved as they are obviously intent on going through with this stupid scheme. I have given them every oportunity to research, given web sites, breeders who offer free courses. I now know where they intend to purchase their birds, a local garden centre. I have no idea if this garden centre has a checks policy in place on purchasers of birds. They intend to purchase 12 birds to keep in a shed 4' x 6' with no daylight, run space. The birds will cost them a total of £90.

It is illegal for them to use creosote unless they are professionals or industrial users.  Here is some information on the change in the law 2003.  www.hse.gov.uk/biocides/copr/creosote.htm

Here is an extract from the Penalties of ignoring the ban.  "The approval for supply, storage and use of amateur products was revoked as of 30 June 2003. As such, anyone supplying, storing or using amateur products date may be liable for prosecution. Prosecutions may be brought under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985."

Hope this is of some help to you if the RSPCA can't do anything then the Environmental Health Department should.  Good luck and keep us up to date.

God, I hope it's just some other wood preserver that looks/smells like creosote.
That's carcinogenic.

Environmental health should definitely look into that.

I'm Back! Not only was this account deleted everything I had on my laptop was - hacker gremlins - gggrrrr!!! Update, they havn't seen my set up, they have been invited around numerous times and I have offered to show them how to handle and health check birds but all to no avail and yes I have most definately told them it is cruel to even contemplate keeping birds in the conditiins they have set up. The last contact I had was via text asking where I purchased my birds from so I am going to tip off the breeder so if they show up there she can refuse to allow them to purchase from her! I am going to see her next weekend for one of their poultry husbandry one day courses (always free courses and I have even asked the prospective keepers to come along - no, didn't want to!) As for commercial/battery hens, yes I know they are kept indoors 24/7 without daylight, however at least they have artificial lighting!! That's what keeps them laying!! The poor birds to be confined in the creosote soak shed will not even have that!!!! They have blocked off the window area to make the "chicken house" secure so the birds wont get any access to light at all! No eggs then....! I'm pretty sure the RSPCA would be interested if the birds are being kept in bad conditions, surely it would class as neglect and cruelty to keep 12 hens locked in a dark shed every day, not let out and fed on kitchen/household scraps??

My girls are housed in a converted Wendy house, but free range in the day. What ar the dimensions of the shed?? Do they plan to let the Chooks run round the garden at any time. Call the RSPCA the moment the chickens are in the shed.
Best of luck
Weasel and The Chooks