The little chicken who will...

[khemo]

This is the "story" of Consuela Conchita, my little chola.
She's an ISA brown. I got her as a baby from TSC with 3 sisters in March of 2013. I'd say she was about a week older than the other 3 because she had like, 4 feathers on her wings while the others were mostly fuzz.
They were my first chickens ever and we loved them so much. We had no idea how fun chickens could be.

We had only gotten four because we didn't want to kill off a bunch if something happened since all the books and articles made keeping baby chicks sound scary, and if anything could go wrong, it would, so we started with four. We named them Bernardo, Guillermo, Paco and Jesus (hay-seuss, not Jeezus), but Jesus didn't like that name so we changed it to Consuela, and she liked that just fine.

Well, later, I read you shouldn't name your hens boy names- and we found out why. Later. But in the meantime, Consuela and her sisters grew up and got along great. Paco and Bernardo would fight once in awhile, but Guillermo would break them up (her and Bernardo were besties). They had 6 nesting boxes- 3 on top, 3 on the bottom, and they all loved the middle top box. They'd lay their eggs in that box, make a big production out of it, then they were out for the day. And they didn't lay junkie eggs in the box- we'd get an occasional soft shell, or some misshapen something, but it would be on top of the boxes, not in with the good eggs.
They'd come running to me when I called- I didn't even have to have food. Bernardo would escort people to the backdoor; Paco took care of the front door. They'd follow us around, offer their advice when my husband was working in the garage or if I was painting outside, they'd keep me company. When cleaning stalls or bringing hay for the horses, Guillermo would hop up and ride on the cart. Consuela would let me pick her up so people could pet her.
We free ranged them. If we weren't home for most of the day, they had a yard attached to their coop that has wire on all sides and the top they could stay in instead.

In the summer of 2015, Consuela got broody. She just would not come out of that box for anything. Finally my husband, worried she wasn't eating, took her out. Within 15 minutes she was back in. I took her out once and shut the coop door. She was back at it as soon as the door was reopened. But she wasn't a jerk- she'd kick the eggs to me when I finally collected them, hoping it'd break her of it (it didn't). Then one day, she just was over it. And she was the only one who was ever broody.

Oct. 7, 2015, I let them out for the day and ran some errands. I took my dogs with me. I almost didn't let the cholas out (our nickname for them) because it was overcast and crappy, but I was going to be at work the next few days, so this was going to be it, and they HATED being inside, even with their yard.
Twice I almost dropped the dogs back off at home, but decided no, I'd never finish my errands. So when I did come home, I saw a pile of feathers by the garage. I knew chickens released feathers to escape predators, but then I saw more. And I saw a body. A quick run around the garage and I found another, and by the barn a 3rd. I was devastated. My dogs chased a dog off the property.

My husband woke up, came down to me bawling and screaming and he helped gather and identify the bodies. We couldn't find Consuela. I thought maybe she got carried off- but I kept searching and calling for her, hoping she hid in the barn. I swore I heard her answering me, but then thought I was imagining it. Then it got louder, then quieter, and I figured I wasn't crazy, so I called to my husband to come help- he finally found her hiding in a bush- she did an awesome job concealing herself! Or I'm a horrible predator... So we got her out of there, put her in the coop and buried her sisters. All with boy names.

 

[khemo]

So the number one lesson in keeping chickens: listen to your gut.

She was alone, and winter was coming in Michigan, and she was not keen on being a house chicken. Looking back, I could have probably gotten some chicks to slip under her at night since she was the only one to go broody, but I wasn't confident in that. And I didn't want to risk getting a PITA rooster if I had her hatch some eggs, that she may or may not do anyway. So I looked on Craigslist for chickens for sale- tons. I found someone close by who was "retiring" some of their egg layers. So I went and picked up a black sex link (Benita) and a RIR (Maria). We kept them separated by keeping the new ones in a dog cage in the barn, then when it was time, we introduced them to each other.

Chickens are dicks.

So Consuela and Maria tried to start stuff between each other, then Benita would end it. Benita ended up ruling the roost. She also ended up being an egg breaker. And a bully. Like, she'd come up to Consuela if she was pecking on some corn, mumble something and Consuela would freeze in mid-peck. BUT, Consuela otherwise was fearless. She still wanted to go outside, still wanted to run around (probably to get away from them) and Benita and Maria would follow uncertainly.

Once a crow came into the garden where we have bird seed and suet, and was tearing up the suet. The girls were out there, and when the crow landed on the hanger, they froze. It proceeded to tear up the suet cake, dropping pieces all over. Consuela decided that was probably delicious, and started picking her way over there. The crow looked at her and she froze. Then he'd look away, and she'd slowing start over again. He'd look, she'd freeze. By the 3rd look, she didn't care. But she stood under him and watched, then when she deemed it was OK, she started to eat what the crow dropped.

Maria decided this might be an ideal situation also, so she slowly made her way over too and eventually joined in. Benita? Nope. Her little chicken butt waited until that crow took off, then she ran over and bullied the other 2 out of the leavings!

Strike 2, Benita, strike 2.....

The first winter tho, they'd pick on Consuela. She was actually smaller than them- I thought they were about the same size when I picked the 2 out. And I don't know how many times I'd hug her, and "peck" at those b...tches when they pecked her. Eventually they stopped pecking her, especially in front of me. By summer of 2016, they were getting along well enough.

This past summer, we came home from getting hay up the road, and saw a pile of black feathers in the yard, then another- no body. And tho I feel bad she went that way, I don't miss Benita. I feel worse for not missing her. Does that make sense?

And so it's just Consuela and Maria, and there seems to be a lot less stress. Maria follows Consuela around.... Consuela ditches Maria all the time because she has important chicken business to attend to? Maria is not as adventurous, and will hang by the barn/coop if Consuela is not around.

The Saturday before Christmas (Dec. 23), I went to put the girls away for the night- again, I almost didn't let them out, but I knew cold and snow was coming, so I figured it was their last day for awhile- and they didn't come when I called. My dog was fixated on a corner in the barn by the door- I figured it was a squirrel that had ran off 10 minutes ago (dogs, amirite?) but then I saw feathers lining the wall and when I moved the cart right there, I saw Consuela trying to get as far into the corner as possible. I moved her and saw her back was tore up- I didn't even know how badly yet- so I searched all over for Maria- could not find her- went and got a box for Consuela and wondered if I could "end" her pain (no- I decided no, I don't know how and I wasn't going to try in case I screwed up).

I put Consuela in the box and kept looking for Maria. I called my husband, who had left for work, to ask who he'd last seen where on his way out. He thought he'd seen Maria up front. He had even contemplated putting them in for the night, but decided against it because they still had a good hour of daylight and it was going to be cold and snowy (follow your gut!). So I searched all over the front, around the house and garden- no Maria. I gave up, put Consuela in the coop to be safe since it was getting dark, and went looking again. This time she popped up from the weeds around our garage- chickens really are experts in camouflage! I walked her back to the coop, shut it up even from their yard, and took Consuela inside.

I had a guinea pig cage her box fit in perfectly, set her up in that, then scoured the internet for wound care. It was the Saturday before Christmas, and we have ONE avian vet, who's not open on Saturday, and I figured he was a pet bird vet- conures and parrots. I know a bird is a bird is a bird when it comes down to it, but I have no way of getting ahold of him when his office is closed. And after I found some rudimentary stuff online about neosporin and cleaning with iodine or peroxide, I texted my sister who was coming into town and probably running errands for my mom, if she could bring me some triple antibiotic ointment if she was in the area- I had very little and my husband had the truck.

That thread can be found here and is full of great advice (some drama) but a lot of great advice: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/help-i-think-my-chickens-back-was-ripped-off.1213092/

 

[khemo]

So Consuela has seen a vet this past Tuesday, and she is eating, drinking, and pooping just fine. Her back is looking so.much.better. although it's still pretty jacked up. I was looking at the initial pix v the ones from just today, and in a week, she appears to have made some progress. Still hard to look at, but here they are side by side. I'll try to post a new pic every week just so we can see the progress.

I am going to make an appt for her to see the vet next week hopefully- I think she'd benefit from him using that laser on her and keeping an eye on her progress, especially now that I know he does see chickens after all.

I will not be getting any new chickens for awhile. We want to move out of Michigan because winters su-huck! here, and we don't want to worry about what to do with chickens in between homes- dog, cat, ferret, gecko, parakeet and horses we can find living arrangements for, but chickens? not so much.
And even then, we've decided unless we can basically make a chicken yard that is literally a small backyard/park-like garden haven for chickens that we can install benches and fountains, paths, whatever- that's all enclosed, we probably won't get chickens again. Too much stress and feelings of unfairness to keep them cooped up, too much heartbreak to subject them to the perils of free ranging.

 

[khemo]

Here are the photos of her injuries to date- it's only been a week:
Initial Dec. 23

Taken the next day (Dec. 24) to really see severity:

These are a week after the attack, taken this morning (Dec. 30):

under wing:

 

[21hens-incharge]

Long long road but she is making progress.

 

[bluebird]

So the number one lesson in keeping chickens: listen to your gut.

She was alone, and winter was coming in Michigan, and she was not keen on being a house chicken. Looking back, I could have probably gotten some chicks to slip under her at night since she was the only one to go broody, but I wasn't confident in that. And I didn't want to risk getting a PITA rooster if I had her hatch some eggs, that she may or may not do anyway. So I looked on Craigslist for chickens for sale- tons. I found someone close by who was "retiring" some of their egg layers. So I went and picked up a black sex link (Benita) and a RIR (Maria). We kept them separated by keeping the new ones in a dog cage in the barn, then when it was time, we introduced them to each other.

Chickens are dicks.

So Consuela and Maria tried to start stuff between each other, then Benita would end it. Benita ended up ruling the roost. She also ended up being an egg breaker. And a bully. Like, she'd come up to Consuela if she was pecking on some corn, mumble something and Consuela would freeze in mid-peck. BUT, Consuela otherwise was fearless. She still wanted to go outside, still wanted to run around (probably to get away from them) and Benita and Maria would follow uncertainly.

Once a crow came into the garden where we have bird seed and suet, and was tearing up the suet. The girls were out there, and when the crow landed on the hanger, they froze. It proceeded to tear up the suet cake, dropping pieces all over. Consuela decided that was probably delicious, and started picking her way over there. The crow looked at her and she froze. Then he'd look away, and she'd slowing start over again. He'd look, she'd freeze. By the 3rd look, she didn't care. But she stood under him and watched, then when she deemed it was OK, she started to eat what the crow dropped.

Maria decided this might be an ideal situation also, so she slowly made her way over too and eventually joined in. Benita? Nope. Her little chicken butt waited until that crow took off, then she ran over and bullied the other 2 out of the leavings!

Strike 2, Benita, strike 2.....

The first winter tho, they'd pick on Consuela. She was actually smaller than them- I thought they were about the same size when I picked the 2 out. And I don't know how many times I'd hug her, and "peck" at those b...tches when they pecked her. Eventually they stopped pecking her, especially in front of me. By summer of 2016, they were getting along well enough.

This past summer, we came home from getting hay up the road, and saw a pile of black feathers in the yard, then another- no body. And tho I feel bad she went that way, I don't miss Benita. I feel worse for not missing her. Does that make sense?

And so it's just Consuela and Maria, and there seems to be a lot less stress. Maria follows Consuela around.... Consuela ditches Maria all the time because she has important chicken business to attend to? Maria is not as adventurous, and will hang by the barn/coop if Consuela is not around.

The Saturday before Christmas (Dec. 23), I went to put the girls away for the night- again, I almost didn't let them out, but I knew cold and snow was coming, so I figured it was their last day for awhile- and they didn't come when I called. My dog was fixated on a corner in the barn by the door- I figured it was a squirrel that had ran off 10 minutes ago (dogs, amirite?) but then I saw feathers lining the wall and when I moved the cart right there, I saw Consuela trying to get as far into the corner as possible. I moved her and saw her back was tore up- I didn't even know how badly yet- so I searched all over for Maria- could not find her- went and got a box for Consuela and wondered if I could "end" her pain (no- I decided no, I don't know how and I wasn't going to try in case I screwed up).

I put Consuela in the box and kept looking for Maria. I called my husband, who had left for work, to ask who he'd last seen where on his way out. He thought he'd seen Maria up front. He had even contemplated putting them in for the night, but decided against it because they still had a good hour of daylight and it was going to be cold and snowy (follow your gut!). So I searched all over the front, around the house and garden- no Maria. I gave up, put Consuela in the coop to be safe since it was getting dark, and went looking again. This time she popped up from the weeds around our garage- chickens really are experts in camouflage! I walked her back to the coop, shut it up even from their yard, and took Consuela inside.

I had a guinea pig cage her box fit in perfectly, set her up in that, then scoured the internet for wound care. It was the Saturday before Christmas, and we have ONE avian vet, who's not open on Saturday, and I figured he was a pet bird vet- conures and parrots. I know a bird is a bird is a bird when it comes down to it, but I have no way of getting ahold of him when his office is closed. And after I found some rudimentary stuff online about neosporin and cleaning with iodine or peroxide, I texted my sister who was coming into town and probably running errands for my mom, if she could bring me some triple antibiotic ointment if she was in the area- I had very little and my husband had the truck.

That thread can be found here and is full of great advice (some drama) but a lot of great advice: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/help-i-think-my-chickens-back-was-ripped-off.1213092/

x2

 

[coach723]

Awesome that she's doing well! Glad you are posting all of this, it may help someone in the future. Hope she keeps doing well.

 

[Latestarter]

following. Glad she's still progressing.

 

[LJoWilly]

Thanks for the update! Fingers crossed for the both of you!

 

[khemo]

I took Consuela to the vet today to have her checked over. So far so good. He used the laser again on her, and said as long as she's peppy, eating, clean and active, she'd do great.
No infection at this point still, and there's significant reconstruction happening on day 12!
He doesn't think the muscle will develop as well as the original, but she's got all use of her wings and stuff at this point anyway.
He said to keep it moist so it doesn't crack when it scabs.
Unless she's goes downhill, we don't need to keep coming to see him, but it will be a looooong road to recovery still.
And so far she's still eating, talking, sassy, pooping, and seems in good spirits.
She won't eat eggs- unless they're runny yolked (thanks Benita), but she's eating corn and peas- her favorite.
I'm going to finally try some tuna fish, but.... It don't seem right. And I don't know if she'd eat it. She's kind of picky.
I keep her layer crumble in with her all day with grit and oyster shell mixed in, and water with electrolytes and a baby aspirin broken up in it as well. I haven't been putting ointment on or the emt gel because 1) she bit me the last time I tried the ointment this past weekend 2) the ointment is a PITA to put on and 3) I'm almost pout of the gel. Which she hates too.
When I put that stuff on her, she pecks at it. I tried a bib, she messed with that.
But spritzing her 26th the chlorohexadine only bothers her when I do it, not after.