That was Claire, a Japanese bantam! I tried to post her story but it keeps telling me I'm out of characters.
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Gezellige_Poes
Gezellige_Poes
Splitting up her story: I found her in a throng of teenage chickens, sunburnt, picked bald,with one leg badly splayed, and struggling to get away from the constant pecking and trampling. The breeder was doing nothing to help her!
Gezellige_Poes
Time stood still and all I could think of was how fast I could get that poor pullet away from this horrible situation (and bite my tongue to not fillet the breeder and have me shoo'ed off his property without Claire!).
Gezellige_Poes
Once home, I gently cleaned her up and eased her terribly traumatized skin with coconut oil, then put her in a soft little bed to start her recovery. And recover she did! She started sprouting feathers very quickly and soon turned into a beautiful fluff ball!
Gezellige_Poes
I tried to correct her badly splayed leg, but it was so very advanced and it was way too much drama to change things. She was actually compensating quite well. So she lived 2 glorious years (2021-2023)with a few other bantams in an inside habitat.
Gezellige_Poes
She had a little bed and got around quite well to eat and drink, and keep company with the others. I gave her baths as needed and she loved them. Afterwards, I would wrap her up in a warm blanket and keep her near while she dried, and she would purr and purr.
Gezellige_Poes
I'm not sure why she did not live longer than she did, I could find no outward signs, but she lived a pampered life and I miss her!
Chicken_Obsesser
Oh my goodness, what a special story!!!!!!! Claire sounds like an amazing chicken 
Gezellige_Poes
Yes, she was a very special peep indeed! I think about how things happen in life and I do believe there is not much to chance, rather by some grand design. All the planets aligned that day to get Claire to love and safety. Thank you for sharing in Claire's life.
Chicken_Obsesser
Aww of course!! It's very rare that such a special bird comes along.
Gezellige_Poes
It's in the wee hours - not unusual for me since COVID flipped my night and day and I've given up trying to fix it all. Let the dogs out not long ago, my greyhound, Dakota, already wears a muzzle from last year's unbelievable trauma killing bunnies, with the help of my Rough collie, Ren, who found the nests.
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Gezellige_Poes
(Cont'd)
It's started again. Ren came inside with one in her mouth, I found the 2nd stone cold. Searched and searched holding babies against my chest to warm them, flashlight in hand.
It's started again. Ren came inside with one in her mouth, I found the 2nd stone cold. Searched and searched holding babies against my chest to warm them, flashlight in hand.
Gezellige_Poes
Let Ren back out while I searched further and sure enough, eventually found her sitting with the third. No nest to be found, but it's pitch black, will search again tomorrow. So, my rehab season has started! Only one is obviously bitten.
Gezellige_Poes
They are warming up in the powder room sink on heating pad and covered, where they will stay til they start to move around and then graduate to another habitat. Ren will now also wear a muzzle! 3 is a lot to rehab at once!