So angry...

[xafsmom]

But, I have no idea what, if anything to do about it...

My aviary partner and I decided to expand some of our breeding collection of New World birds and were working a deal out with a local small breeder who was getting out of the business. After talking with her and making arrangements, she mentioned that her brother had 'several pairs of greys' if I was interested. That he was needing to get rid of them badly.

Now, I don't have a ton of experience with Greys, but the weirdness of how she was telling me this made me want to go see these birds. I told her I'd be more than interested... so off we went to look. Her brother had these birds in 3'x2'x2.5' cages, with wire weave that was big enough to get heads caught in. The birds looked rangy and he proceeded to tell us that they were excellent producers, easy to work with ...because he fed/watered once a week but made sure they had extra food, and the birds were in the back pasture under a tree, surrounded by weeds and bugs - so they wouldn't be disturbed. ...I was disturbed.

I saw one hen alone and asked about her, he mentioned he forgot to check on them for 2 weeks and found the male 'long dead' in the cage.

Needless to say, I grabbed them all up. They're all imported birds, all wearing the split quarantine bands. I've set up a tent with a misting system as a temporary quarantine off my quarantine room - because I just can't house this many pairs inside the room. They're all removed (I'd rather wrestle water buffalo with my bare hands and naked before I try re-caging Grey's again!) from their rusted wire traps and in 3'x4'x4' 12g. flights with new boot boxes (they panic and rush in, so I'm keeping them emotionally comfy this way, not because I want to throw them into a breeding scenario). I've shielded 1/3 of the cage with thick meshing outside of it to give them the opportunity to escape into an enclosed area. They're getting fresh food and water DAILY now... and the vet will be out this week to test all of these birds.

The guy I got them from... I want to just kick him in the ... yah. Since I removed the birds and didn't photograph them first, and since he's out of the bird biz... should I attempt to have him prosecuted or just let it go? Will animal control even look into it at this point?

Any advice would be helpful. These birds are here for good now. I have the space and ability to take care of them, so I am. So, as far as THAT goes, the biggest problem is solved, but still... Yeah, I'm feeling vindictive, I guess. But, I'm very angry.

[Bal]

Animal Cruelty ...hell yeah you should report it the police!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

take care of those African Greys.

[lorilazerson]

You are a wonderful person to take in all these Greys and give them a loving home. They are sure lucky you found them!!!!!!!!!

lori

[alwaysontimneh]

I would call the animal police no doubt about it, even if they tell you that they can't do anything if you have his name they can be on a look out to see if he ever comes up in their system again. I think it is amazing that you took all those greys in !

[DynamitePsycho]

I agree with everyone with atleast reporting him...

[jlt666]

Bless you for stepping in and taking these birds in. As sad as it is, your wonderful generosity balances out the horrible, evil person you took those birds from.

We may never know what the plan for us is, but I truly believe you were brought to these birds because they needed you.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for stepping up and not running away. These birds probably weren't what you were looking for, but truly they were looking for you.

[xafsmom]

I'm not a 'good person' or a rescue, but thanks for the kind comments. I think anyone would take them in, if they had room. They're all wild as can be, older breeders and if they're all healthy and sound, I'll integrate them into my program eventually, though I didn't intend to breed Greys! If they're not physically and emotionally sound enough to continue to breed, then they'll go into the big flight we're building and live as well as they can be without a ton of human interaction, which they prefer, or build larger but separate flights for them if they're communally fighty.

As horrible as their feeding schedule and place of residence was, they are all in seemingly decent condition, albeit thin. All have relatively good feather condition, beaks are fine... toenails are terrible but that's easily fixed. The only really big thing worrying me is that they were on what looked like wall trim boards (the boards between the floor and the wall that I can't remember the name of right now to save my life) as perches. All under 1/2 inch boards, square and painted white with I'm guessing primer, and their feet have open sores on them. Hopefully, that can be treated topically and we already have good perches for decent footing in their new cages. So, barring something terrible disease wise, I'm hoping we can just fatten them up on healthy foods, fresh water, treat their feet and do a round of worming and such.

Tomorrow, I'll call animal control and see what they make of it. I don't think the guy was maliciously not caring for them, but, to me that's really no excuse. To leave breeders in that sort of care and lavish attention on the offspring to sell... Don't get me wrong, I sell my chicks, but my breeders are fabulously taken care of first and foremost. I just don't get it.

[Sprecker]

I am afraid with out the pictures and the fact that they are noe in your possession it's a case of your word against his. It sucks hard but that's the world we live in. Ironicly the only way you would have been able to make sure that this never happened again and to see him get his just desserts was to have left the birds in his care. If animal control was to go there because of a complaint and saw what you described, he would have been skay-rude. But you woldn't know where the birds would be going and all that anominity stuff.
I commend you for stepping up and doing the right thing for those greys. Maybe you can still give the animal control a name and addres to keep incase he decides to get back into the business.

[mmr]

pictures taken while visitng them would have been more incrimidating. But I think let it go, they are in a much better place and loved! That is the most important thing!

How many did you get?

[drheather]

How aggravating. I just got off of an annoying phone call with my regretably ingnorant dog-owning friend of mine so I'm in the mood to tear apart any and all negligent animal owners, regardless of the animals "pet" status.

After reading this, dealing with my douchebag friend, and having to go home and see the poor dog that lives behind me be ignored all night I think I may need a good, stiff drink and a pack of smokes.

These people should be punished by being treated the exact same way the poor animals are treated. INCLUDING my "friend".

GOOD LUCK AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.