Thank you for the tutorial. I am fascinated by these birds. Over a year ago, a strange looking hen appeared in my back yard. I located her owner, a neighbor who raises game fowl. I was so afraid of that little hen. And she kept escaping her pen and flying over to my house. She'd sleep in the tree above my rooster pen. Then one morning she was gone, and there were feathers scattered over the pen. I assumed she had been killed by a night time predator. Then, my rooster started to crow - and there she was. I felt bad for her so I opened the back gate and she came into my yard. One week later, she was attacked again! This time she was no where to be found, only some feathers. Two days later, a neighbor came over with her. He assumed she was our hen. She had to cross to very large horse corrals to get to his property. My husband said, yup, she's ours. When I saw her I was so happy. However, she was in bad shape. Injuries to her head and back. Also couldn't walk very well. I took her to my vet and now she's my little Riki Tiki. I ended up buying her from my neighbor who raised her, even though he didn't take very good care of her. She is a Whitehackle hen. Such a great bird, so smart she comes to her name, and eats from my hand. She's out everyday with my other hens and she has never flown into the trees or tried to return to my neighbor's place. I guess she knows...she's already home.
