Dozens of chickens, ducks, other birds rescued from home in Detroit

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Detroit animal control officers and the Michigan Humane Society were at a home in Detroit Thursday morning for a report of an animal hoarding situation. 

More than 50 birds of different varieties were being kept in the 13100 block of McDougall Street, which is near Conant Street and the Davison Freeway. That includes chickens, ducks, turkeys, peacocks and other types of birds were there, including babies. 

"We're going to be removing all of the animals from the property," said Elise Ramsey, from the Michigan Humane Society. "There's further investigation to be done, but now we just want to get them out of the heat into the cool and get them some fresh water."

Rescue crews secured all the animals just after noon, and counted 80 birds. 

"We definitely have work to do," said Ramsey. 

The owner, a Bangladesh native helped round up the birds, but said he didn't know keeping the animals in the city wasn't allowed. After purchasing the land from the Detroit Land Bank, he said he planned on having a farm similar to the one he had in Bangladesh.

"And I love them anyway," he said.

Neighbors say this was his hobby and that they just referred to him as "the chicken man." 

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Charges may be pending but right now it doesn't appear to be a case of animal cruelty or neglect. The owner cooperated with investigators. 

Thursday's raid is emblematic of a larger problem: immigrant families unaware that keeping farm animals are not allowed in the city. While most of the animals were doing okay, some showed evidence of neglect, including a peacock brought out by Ramsey.

"She has some injuries on her eye and her coat and her feathers are in really poor condition," Ramsey said. "so this is a prime example of why we want to break this cycle and educate this owner."

The animals will be checked over by a veterinarian before being relocated to different farms or sanctuaries.