Chickens that people dump at Knotts Berry Farm in California

[meganeight]

My son and I have grown fond of the chickens that roam around the independence hall at Knotts Berry farm; but are bothered by the fact that they are abandoned by people for various reasons. We have been going up there and feeding them and hiding water containers for them to get water. I sent an email to Knotts asking if they would put in waterers for them and their exact response was

I will share your concerns with our maintenance department, but please know that the chickens and roosters do not belong to us. We do not know if someone has dropped them off at the location or they have found their own way to the area. We have already had some of them removed, but they keep reappearing. Your comments will be shared. Thank you for your concern.

So now that scares me even more as I am not sure what they do with them when they "remove" them.
I did email them back to ask if they have ever considered taking ownership of them as the visitors to the park seem to love them, [except for the kids who instinctually want to chase them] Then they would get fed regularly and water when they need it.
I tried looking up Chicken protection laws for the state of California but could not find any. There are about 50 chickens, roosters and chicks and I am finding myself worring about their quality of life. They all seem healthy but I am not sure how they could be as they just eat whatever and drink water that the sprinklers leave in the puddles.
Am I being silly?​

 

[SurprisingWoman]

Maybe you could leave your information with the park and anytime they have chicks/chickens that are abandoned at their park they could call you and you could go and get them and rehome them.

It isn't the parks fault that people are irresponsible but I bet they would love to have a resource to help rehome them.

 

[G Wiz Ranch]

Are you being silly? Only if you want the park to pay the price for people dumping the chickens. As a business owner it peeves me when someone dumps someyhing on our lot, because now I own what they dump. If I were knotts, I would ask animal control to remove them and make it their problem.

 

[twentynine]

It is comendable that you show concern for the chicken's "quality of life". I would think removing them means animal control takes them to the "big farm in the sky". What else cn they do?

If word gets out that they are accepting stray chickens the place would be run over with cats, dogs, horses, sheep, goats, chickens, dicks and geese. Placing myself in those circumstances, I would not take ownership of the chickens myself.

Here's an idea--- why don't you go on up there and get them chickens.

 

[yellowchickensmomma]

If you take the chickens that are there whoever is dropping the chickens off with contunie to think it is ok for this behavior to contunie. They need to take measures to stop this irresponsible act from happening.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
That doesn't make sense unless they are trying to populate the place with chickens, as compared with getting rid of ones they do not want. If they are trying to populate it and the birds keep disappearing, I would expect them to get the hint and either make a concerted effort to go through the channels to get the birds put on display as an exhibit/petting zoo or abandon the idea. If the birds aren't there to attract people to the idea of dumping them, but disappear almost immediately then their presence won't give people ideas of "oh! that's what I can do with my extra chickens."

 

[Sissy]

Every where and anywhere
their are those that dont want any responsibilitys.

 

[Sillystunt]

my husband used to work there. he laughed at their response!

He has worked in several OK many theme parks across the USA, canada & germany. He said the only one that would treat these chickens with respect and grace is SEA WORLD! He said, they have a program there. he has seen parrots sell for $100 to employees, they are atleast worth 1,000. He said,they have ducks dropped off but has never heard of any chickens~

We all know that people are stupid, they probally thought it was a REAL farm,LOL. Started that way but isn't anymore!

 

[2DogsFarm]

Just a couple thoughts:
*Is it possible the chickens you see are the offspring of the original dumpees?
*And that KBF is a healthier place for "feral" chickens than you think?
*How long would it take one rooster and a couple hens to populate the place with 50 chicks?

As long as they appear healthy they probably don't need your help to stay that way.
It's such a huge park, there must be sufficient water from the sprinkler system and imagine all the popcorn that gets dropped there in a day.....

 

[meganeight]

I agree most with your response, thank you. They have been there for more than 40 years so I guess they are ok and there a lot of babies, and they all seem healthy. I just worry that there is no one looking after them and on a whim Knotts can swoop down and get rid of them all. I would take them all if I could but I live in a town home and don't have a yard and I don't think the homeowners association will allow it
I am sure that a lot of the chickens that are there are offspring.

Ohhhhhh in a perfect world:/