I am writing to ask you take immediate action investigating Green Meadows Farm.

 

info@visitgreenmeadowsfarm.com

 

Cornell Duck Research Laboratory further delineates specific temperatures under which ducklings must be raised.  Not only were these ducklings and chicks at Green Meadows Farm exposed to drafts with no protection whatsoever, they were also exposed to temperatures greater than 40 degrees below the mandated temperatures at which these birds must be maintained.  In addition, none of the ducklings' waterers were filled, and the ducklings, which should have access to water 24/7, had no water.  The wire flooring for their pens was much to wide, causing damage and injury to their feet.  There was no staff supervision at any of the duckling stations and children were permitted to handle these very fragile ducklings and chicks without any guidance or education.   

 

The pen that housed the 3-6 week old ducklings also was made of wire, once again providing no protection from drafts.  There was no heat source in their pen.  The pen housed 40-50 ducklings and far exceeded the recommended mandates for space required per duck.  Many of these ducklings were shivering, with obvious respiratory and other illnesses, eye infections, no feathers, and were too weak to move.   

Green Meadows Farm should not be permitted to display ducklings in open wire pens.  It is cruel and exposes them to weather conditions they are not equipped to handle.  It is incomprehensible that these birds are left out in open wire pens at any time of year.  The fact that Green Meadows has them outside in November shows a complete disregard for the welfare and well-being of these birds.   
 
The adult ducks housed in a separate muddy pen, did not have clean water and their water bowl was not deep enough for them to dip their entire bills, a basic requirement for adult waterfowl.
 
The goose pen was also grossly inadequate.  The geese were forced into a small filthy muddy area.  The waterer used for the geese contained dirty water and was not deep enough for them to dip their bills.
 
In addition to the horrible conditions under which these birds were kept, I documented multiple abuses of other animals and would be glad to provide you with photos of the horrific conditions to which all these poor creatures were subjected. 
 
I am demanding an immediate inspection be made of Green Meadows Farm and that you send me a copy of your written inspection report.   It is my understanding that you recently inspected Green Meadows Farm.  I am extremely disturbed that these gross abuses were seemingly ignored by you and no violations were issued for these obvious acts of animal cruelty.

 
Sincerely,
Caroline A. Lee
Attorney At Law
43-60 Douglaston Parkway
Suite 522
Douglaston, NY 11363

 

Glen Oaks, NY 11004

 

I am writing you about a situation by a visitor to your farm which is immediately described below:
 
"I visited Green Meadows Farm on November 15, 2009, and was horrified by what I saw. The conditions I witnessed were inexcusably cruel and inhumane with many animals denied both water and shelter.  Green Meadows had on display newly hatched baby ducklings and baby chicks in open air wire pens, with no protection from drafts or cold weather. According to every duck care authority, including Cornell University Duck Research Laboratory, " If ducklings are hatched artificially, rather than by a broody duck, the caretaker must provide the newly hatched ducklings with a warm dry brooding area free of drafts..."

 

Cornell Duck Research Laboratory further delineates specific temperatures under which ducklings must be raised.  Not only were these ducklings and chicks at Green Meadows Farm exposed to drafts with no protection whatsoever, they were also exposed to temperatures greater than 40 degrees below the mandated temperatures at which these birds must be maintained.  In addition, none of the ducklings' waterers were filled, and the ducklings, which should have access to water 24/7, had no water.  The wire flooring for their pens was much to wide, causing damage and injury to their feet.  There was no staff supervision at any of the duckling stations and children were permitted to handle these very fragile ducklings and chicks without any guidance or education.   

 

The pen that housed the 3-6 week old ducklings also was made of wire, once again providing no protection from drafts.  There was no heat source in their pen.  The pen housed 40-50 ducklings and far exceeded the recommended mandates for space required per duck.  Many of these ducklings were shivering, with obvious respiratory and other illnesses, eye infections, no feathers, and were too weak to move. 

  

Green Meadows Farm should not be permitted to display ducklings in open wire pens.  It is cruel and exposes them to weather conditions they are not equipped to handle.  It is incomprehensible that these birds are left out in open wire pens at any time of year.  The fact that Green Meadows has them outside in November shows a complete disregard for the welfare and well-being of these birds.   
 
The adult ducks housed in a separate muddy pen, did not have clean water and their water bowl was not deep enough for them to dip their entire bills, a basic requirement for adult waterfowl.
 
The goose pen was also grossly inadequate.  The geese were forced into a small filthy muddy area.  The waterer used for the geese contained dirty water and was not deep enough for them to dip their bills.
 
In addition to the horrible conditions under which these birds were kept, I documented multiple abuses of other animals and would be glad to provide you with photos of the horrific conditions to which all these poor creatures were subjected.  
 
I am extremely disturbed that these gross abuses were seemingly ignored by you and no violations were issued for these obvious acts of animal cruelty."

 

I demand you correct the abuses listed above.  Don't take this matter lightly as I am in Virginia and this situation is going across the nation to bring pressure on you to end this abuse.  I am sending copies of this e-mail to PETA, Fund for Animals, U. S. Humane Society asking them to put pressure on you.

 

The above alert came to me from New York Bird Club.

 

Sincerely,

 

Richard W. Firth

Mechanicsville, Virginia 23116