The Poultry Keeper

fenwoman

I didn't want to register. I thought the questionnaire was intrusive. If all they wanted to do was list poultry keepers, all they have to do was get us to register as poultry keepers full stop. This morning in the middle of my indoors chores, there I was carrying a basket full of laundry to the washing machine, tripping over the puppies who were around my feed, and dying for a cuppa tea when the phone rang. Witheld number (I have caller display). A woman says chirpily "hello is that fenland fowl?" I said it was. She goes on to say that she was from health and safety and wanted to send me some forms. I asked what forms and she twitters on about how everyone is getting forms and leaflets. I aksed if she meant 'everyone' as in every private household in the country and she says no only poultry keepers. She then asks did I keep poultry for meat or eggs. I told her to mind her own bloody business. I asked where she got my phone number from and she says "DEFRA". Anyway I told her in no uncertain terms that I didn't keep chickens for either meat or eggs. I bred ornamental fowl for my own pleasure and showed them, that I was a private household and that I did not appreciate being disturbed by a government body and I was in no need of health and safetly forms and leaflets. She said "I will send them anyway" which personally I consider to be a gross misuse of my details and public fund and an intrusion of my privacy. I told her not to bother sending them as they would be going right into the bin and NOT to contact me again.
Bloody diabolical cheek.
"Register" bleat DEFRA. "We won't pass on your details" they whimper. "We only want to know in case of disease" they say unconvincingly.
Any other so called 'official' body will get exactly the same blunt and angry response if they dare to ring or send me unwanted junk mail and I fully inted to contact my MP although he is a flipping waste of space.
As you can probably imagine. I am hopping livid right now and will have to have a toasted cheese sarnie to calm myself down.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I hope you enjoyed your toasted cheese sarnie, fenwoman. That's the trouble with all these government departments they all share information. In much the same way that all the vets will probably be sharing their knowledge of who has poultry with DEFRA and anyone else who asks.

Do you feel better now?

fenwoman · Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 1:22 pm Post subject:

mmmm toasted cheese then a chelsea bun for afters I feel loads better. Boy I was raging. I simply don't do 'chirpy' in the morning when I am trying to get all my chores finished so that I can sit down, take a painkiller and have some breakfast. I will not do so until all of my jobs are finished so by the time she phoned, I was starving, gagging for a cuppa and in more than a little pain.
Most sensible folks do not dare enter the old dragon's lair until she has been fortified with food, tea and opiates Smile

All I have to do now is post some eggs, pop into town to bank a cheque, buy cat litter, 'D' cups and a couple more cat carirers ready for the show on Sunday.

CP · Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:11 pm Post subject:

Glad the day settled down for you fenwoman. Smile

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2063 Location: North Cornwall

That sends a chill down my spine. I get checked out every year by Health & Safety, but they have never shown any interest in the girls, but it had crossed my mind that they would this year

mojo · Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 6:33 pm Post subject:

regisration has arrived in france james in Creuse had a man from the ministry visit him.....................750 euros fined if not kept indoors.....dear chickens

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Thank goodness you followed instructions Mojo. There are always going to be those who think they are above the law ~ but sometimes it doesn't pay does it?