As a child growing up on the farm, when chicken slaughter time would come we would dread it. We hated plucking those stinking wet feathers. But when Mom would dress the birds I was always interested in the crop.(we called it a "craw" ) She would find the most amazing things in it.... like needles, glass pieces etc.
Gotta have that grit, I guess. Well, grown up and loving chickens like I do I got my first flock years ago. One of which was a White Silkie. We assumed "Silkie" was a hen. Never hearing her crow but never seeing an egg either. One day while they were roaming I was able to see close and noticed "Silkie" had a string of some sort hanging out of his/her beak. Well I immediatly grabbed the bird checked the beak and found that it was a short piece of fishing line going down the throat!!!!!!!! We live on a beautiful creek, people fish here my sons included. Someone cut a line and left it and "Silkie"found it, ate it, but it got hung. Not being able to extract the hook, I could get ahold of it with needle nose pliers but could do no more. I had to let nature take its course. I cut the line off and prayed for the best. Then one day out my bedroom window... I heard squeaky CROW!!!! Then another one. Not having any roosters at that time (they were broth in my freezer) I ran out to find "Silkie" tooting his horn!! Evidently I loosened the hook enough for him to pass it. And GLORY!!! I then had a rooster!!! It was no laughing matter I know,... not knowing the outcome for "Silkie" and all. But we laughed so hard hearing that squeaky voice of his!! After that his crow became stronger as his throat healed. And once he found that voice..... Lord help a milk-chicken..... he never stopped crowing!!! Just thought I'd warn you chicken lovers of the dangers of fishhooks and what a chicken will eat. Thanks for reading!

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