Here is a little story from the backyard (apologies to Mrs Chickendad for stealing her method!)
One day Food Person Number 1 came out to the coop with a basket. Was it grass? Was it treats? No – it was peeping. She took the basket contents and placed them under Big Momma the broody Delaware, who was pretty crabby even when not broody and was unapproachable now (several of the Little Chickens had found this out the hard way). She pecked furiously at FP#1, until she felt the little chicks moving under her bloomers. Nothing else mattered after that. FP#1 sat down to watch for a while to make sure that Big Momma did not change her mind about the newcomers, when she heard a faint rustle and thump.
She had heard that noise 2 days earlier, but after looking around figured it was the Little Chickens on the outside of the coop being chastised by the Big Chickens. This time it sounded closer – and then she heard it again. After retrieving a flashlight she inspected around the laying boxes. At the side along the wall was a narrow, 3 ½" gap between the studs. And at the bottom of the hole was little Basque pullet.
Food Person Number 1 reached as far as her arms allowed, but could not touch little Basque pullet. Several attempts at rescue involving a narrow rake, a board, and a broom handle also failed – little Basque pullet was really wedged in. Finally FP#1 was able to lasso her head, and pull her up far enough to grab her by the neck and pull her out of the dark hole. Ouch! Peep Peep!
My what a mess! Stinky poop all over, feathers askew, stiff legs and wings. She peeped her misery to FP#1, who took her in the Big House and unkindly held her down in the sink under running water until the poop was all washed off. After she was toweled dry, FP#1 put bowls of food and water in the sink. That was much better! She was very hungry.
Still so stiff she could hardly stand, she was bedded down in the Garage in a plastic tote next to a big box of even Smaller Chicks. By morning she was standing better, although listing off to the side when she walked. Food Person Number 1 took her back out to the Little Chicken Pen and put her in with some of her little Cochin friends. There were some new Little Chickens in there too, a motley crowd of six Dorking chicks, one of whom immediately challenged her right to be in the Little Chicken Pen. Well! She promptly trounced the pushy little fellow, despite her recent travails. She felt so much better after that, she fluffed all her feathers and settled down for a good preening.
Timmy Down the Well
The little Basque pullet, along with all her brothers and sisters, had recently moved from the Little Chicken Pen to the Big Chicken Pen next door. There were many Big Chickens that were not happy to have Little Chickens constantly underfoot, but there were so many that is was too confusing to try to punish them for their constant childish behavior. Who could tell all those Little Chickens apart?
One day Food Person Number 1 came out to the coop with a basket. Was it grass? Was it treats? No – it was peeping. She took the basket contents and placed them under Big Momma the broody Delaware, who was pretty crabby even when not broody and was unapproachable now (several of the Little Chickens had found this out the hard way). She pecked furiously at FP#1, until she felt the little chicks moving under her bloomers. Nothing else mattered after that. FP#1 sat down to watch for a while to make sure that Big Momma did not change her mind about the newcomers, when she heard a faint rustle and thump.
She had heard that noise 2 days earlier, but after looking around figured it was the Little Chickens on the outside of the coop being chastised by the Big Chickens. This time it sounded closer – and then she heard it again. After retrieving a flashlight she inspected around the laying boxes. At the side along the wall was a narrow, 3 ½" gap between the studs. And at the bottom of the hole was little Basque pullet.
Food Person Number 1 reached as far as her arms allowed, but could not touch little Basque pullet. Several attempts at rescue involving a narrow rake, a board, and a broom handle also failed – little Basque pullet was really wedged in. Finally FP#1 was able to lasso her head, and pull her up far enough to grab her by the neck and pull her out of the dark hole. Ouch! Peep Peep!
My what a mess! Stinky poop all over, feathers askew, stiff legs and wings. She peeped her misery to FP#1, who took her in the Big House and unkindly held her down in the sink under running water until the poop was all washed off. After she was toweled dry, FP#1 put bowls of food and water in the sink. That was much better! She was very hungry.
Still so stiff she could hardly stand, she was bedded down in the Garage in a plastic tote next to a big box of even Smaller Chicks. By morning she was standing better, although listing off to the side when she walked. Food Person Number 1 took her back out to the Little Chicken Pen and put her in with some of her little Cochin friends. There were some new Little Chickens in there too, a motley crowd of six Dorking chicks, one of whom immediately challenged her right to be in the Little Chicken Pen. Well! She promptly trounced the pushy little fellow, despite her recent travails. She felt so much better after that, she fluffed all her feathers and settled down for a good preening.
Guess I’ve got a pullet named Timmy now.
