Chickens, Deer Carcasses and the cold, dark world... a story

[deedles]

Just thought I'd share a story with you all about the adventure of Nugget, our favorite chicken. She's a big black Australorpe and we just love her. She's kinda clumsy and not especially bright, even by chicken standards, but her sweet disposition makes up for all that.

Anyway, my husband threw a deer carcass (yes, this will probably gross some of you out, but it's what he did) into their run a few weeks ago and they've had a lot of fun pecking the meat and fat off the bones. Well, one evening after sundown, my husband went out to shut up the coop and the next morning when I went out to let the girls out, I was stopped dead in my tracks by what at first looked to be a large glob of black mold?! growing out of the ribcage of the deer? Nope, it was the tail feathers of Nugget!

She had been outside when my hubby shut up the coop and had been stuck outside for the last 15 hours of 5 below zero weather (thank goodness it wasn't windy that night). I don't know if she was stuck in the carcass or went in there for some shelter, but the sun was up when I went out and there she still was! Poor girl, I yelled for my husband and he pulled her out, a little wet from the melting frost inside the deer and kinda bedraggled and COLD for sure. We took her in the garage and warmed her up by the heater and my hubby got her a bowl of yogurt which she promptly gobbled down, so I figured she was probably okay and she is.

I suggested that from now on, he count his chickens before he closes their hatch!

Merry Christmas!

 

[bills]

Poor chicken! Glad to hear it survived the night. I bet it will be the first one in the door from now on..

 

[Guitartists]

It's like something out of Call of the Wild!

Poor chicken... glad she's nice and warm now

 

[Cetawin]

Oh I am glad she is okay. A true testimony for the Australorp's being cold hardy.

 

[crazy hen quartet]

Oh my goodness!

I am left with the stories of survivalists climbing inside of the carcass of a dead animal to protect themselves from the elements.... Bear Grylls and Les Stroud would be proud! For a not - to - bright bird, pretty smart!

 

[LynneP]

Nice one, count your chickens before closing the harch...heh

 

[missourichickenmama]

Quote:

i am glad too!

 

[missourichickenmama]

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that is what i first thought when i read this story!

 

[redoak]

I've heard stories of old time farmers collecting roadkill for their chickens.