Comments on: Chicken Whisperer Giving Away 1,000 Chicks at Decatur Farmers Market Next Saturday

By: writerchad

writerchad — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:46:03 +0000

Dude, I’m totally there. I’ve been thinking about this chicken biz all week. I’ve looked at your site. I’ve pulled up basic coop building diagrams. I think what you’re doing is fan-fricking-tastic. Naysayers be darned. From all that I’ve read, you don’t take this pursuit lightly. It’s clearly your passionate. To be such an open-minded city, we have our fair share of judgmental folk. It’s doubtful I’ll actually walk away with any chicks but I at least want to find out what all the clucking is about. But for those that do decide to adopt, I have the utmost faith in you and organization in educating and preparing them. Thanks for visiting our little hamlet.

By: Chicken Whisperer

Chicken Whisperer — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:33:37 +0000

Hey mbabazi,

The people picking up the baby chicks at this event could easily order a few chicks from an on-line hatchery if they choose, and they would receive NONE of the advantages offered at this event. Hatcheries across the country ship millions of baby chicks each year to first time customers and they don’t get any of the information offered at this event. If you don’t see the advantage of having access to a certified vet, over 80 current chicken owners, continuing education materials from the CDC, USDA, and other resources you have blinders on. There are plenty of advantages here. In fact, a lot more resources than any cat, dog, snake, turtle, lizard, or ferret adoption.

By: Chicken Whisperer

Chicken Whisperer — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:18:53 +0000

Jen and I adopted a dog a couple of years ago. We filled out a short form, and drove off with the dog about 15 minutes later. We have kept dogs all of our lives, and they are a much bigger responsibility. The new baby chick owners will get far more information at this event than anyone who adopts a dog from anywhere! If you have any doubts about this event, please contact me personally. Again, there will be a certified avian vet from the USDA overseeing this event. As the national spokesperson for the USDA-APHIS Bio-Security for Birds Program, I will also be helping educate the new baby chick owners along with over 80 members of the Atlanta Backyard Poultry Meetup Group. We are also working with the CDC regarding this event and information from the CDC will be included in the brochure. In fact, the new baby chick owners will probably get more education and access to information than a new parent having a baby! The event last year was a HUGE success with no problems reported that you claim on this forum. See you Saturday!

By: mbabazi

mbabazi — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:31:50 +0000

When I adopted a cat years back, there was a home check to ensure that the cat was entering a home prepared for her. I have a backyard coop, lots of chickens, and have taught several chicken classes, so I’m a big supporter of chickens in an urban environment. But I am uncomfortable of handing off an animal to someone without guaranteeing that the family (or individual) is ready for it. The cost of chicks to fill the coop is nominal, so I just can’t see the advantages here.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:48:37 +0000

This is an event for people who want backyard chickens for eggs — they are not given away as ‘gifts for visiting’. Recipients are given a brief education before accepting the generosity of those giving away their baby chickens, starter feed and coops. Many citizens of Decatur have chicken and LOVE them, I am one of them. The eggs are fabulous and my family does not have to worry about salmonella scares. Btw, East Atlanta Kids Club is the lucky recipient of the donations but is not sponsoring this event.