Intimidated Chicken Caretaker

[mandymack]

Actually Cloverleaf Farm, the majority of the workers that work NEAR my old barn saw her with her cast on as I carried her back and forth to work every day. Basically, I was known to them as the "loca lady" who crazily paid to have a chicken fixed.

I purposely paraded her in my arms for 1 month in order to convince everyone that she is special and obviously "off-limits". It seems to have worked so far. Mackmack became the talk of the town and everyone inquired about her who knew anything about us. She even seemed to become a favorite to the workers over at the OLD barn and they seemed to respect her as she healed.

It is just that now we are located elsewhere and it's going to be difficult to advertise that Mackmack is not just another walking (limping) dinner entree. She is not friendly anymore and is less identifiable as the cripple chicken.

I thought to tag her somehow with a label that pleaded to spare her. I speak the language of the workers and that is why they know me well. I believe the employees who recognize Mackmack, would never eat her. I just haven't figured out how to maintain her status as a free range fowl while avoiding the inevitable. I can find a home for her, I suppose, but THIS is her home. Her boyfriend still calls to her from far away where she used to roam.

I calculate (with her sitting on the nest) that I have a week or two to figure out how to keep her free from harm. Because I semi-tamed her, someone was able to catch her (she used to jump up onto something whenever she knew that I was going to hold her, and waited for me to pick her up) and clipped her wings. I can only imagine why....

 

[arherp]

Why don't you take her to your house once her babies hatch? And I think that if you gave one of the workers a 20, they could catch her mate for you.

 

[mandymack]

That is an idea that I've tinkered with however, I live in a tiny apartment (it does have a closed in patio.) Mackmack stayed overnight with me and pearched on a homemade pearch atop some highly stacked boxes in my living room. I spent all day picking up poopy balls and cleaning carpet stains while she recovered. Has anyone ever shared the inside of their home with a chicken. I really began to think I was (am) loony. She and I were so happy when she could finally "leave the coop" so to speak.

Yes, I could bring her home, BUT I RENT. This place is not mine and chickens are messy. I could put her and the peeps out on the patio I suppose, but big preying birds fly above my town. I live in the foothills. I will keep trying to find a good home for her...but who wants a chicken with a bunch of tag-a longs? Humm. This is difficult.

As for her rooster, he has begun two-time her now with another hen and I'd hate to separate them too. But yes, a $20 bill would get me as many loose running chick-a-deez as I please. I believe THAT is how her leg was broken. It appears the chicken snatcher tried to nab her shank and...snap-ola.

Note: I've stopped eating chicken as a result of all of this.

 

[arherp]

That is a difficult one. Are you on the ground floor? If you Are up where people cant walk over and bother the chickens, you can put them in a dog crate on your porch. What state are you are you located in?

 

[mandymack]

I'm in Sierra Madre, CA near Pasadena. Thank goodness the weather is warmish for her to live outside in a hay room. I have a big sign in Spanishinfront of her nest that informs the guys to avoid her space. Everything is ok now, it is just when she leaves with her babies to scrounge for food that I worry about their future. I still have time to think...thanks for your concern. Any advice is helpful.

 

[birdlover]

I've thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread! I, too, am a loony tune as I have a chicken living in my bathroom off my bedroom. In fact, she's sharing it with a rabbit (temporarily) but that's another story! I got Virginia from the farm where I work every Fall when they have a two month Fall Festival. She hatched in October but she had a "wry neck" and, eventually, the other chicks started to walk on her and peck her. That's when I took her home. (I'm SUCH a sucker for weak animals!) I cover the bathroom floor with newspaper as well as the toilet seat, top of the tank, etc. Virginia likes to roost on the towel rack although I don't know how much longer she will be able to do that as she is getting big now. I'm telling you this as a suggestion and, also, to let you know you are not alone!

I like the idea one poster suggested of putting her and her brood in a dog crate on the patio. That should work great for a while. Oh, by the way, a lot of the people where I worked are Spanish and they used to tease me mercilessly that they were going to eat the chickens I was taking care of. I speak Spanish and told them under no circumstances were they to eat "MY" chickens. They would just laugh but they never touched one except for the two big roosters they put dibs on at the end of the festival.

I hated that since I'd taken such good care of them but they weren't mine.

One last thing...I once accidentally unplugged the incubator and it went until the next morning unplugged and they still hatched...just a day or two late. If you saw spider veins in the one egg you candled, I'd say you're going to get at LEAST one chick. Broody hens are GREAT, DEPENDABLE incubators!! Much more than the mechanized kind! And while you are waiting, you can be looking for someone who will give mom and babies a good home. Try going to the forum on BYC where people advertise the birds they want to sell or give-away (although I admit I don't understand the new system). Best of luck to you. I will be following this thread to see how things develop (pun intended)!!