The little pullet who could...

[nikkers390]

I think Murphy's Law was based on chickens (and goats, to a degree).
If something COULD happen, it WILL happen!
This is a little story about LC, short for Lucky Chick, an ordinary 16 week old red naked neck pullet. She is one of a flock of 20 chicks her age.
A couple of weeks ago, I had to go out of town for a day. I prepared by loading the chicks with extra food and water. They live in a large secure pen approximately 40' x 30'. That's LOTS of wire. I was gone for about 40 hours. The first thing I did when I returned is check on the chickens. They were glad to see me and crowded the gate as usual. They did not run out of food or water, so all was good until I looked by the brooders. Somehow this little pullet got hung up between 2 touching wires by ONE TOE NAIL 4 feet off the ground. This was chicken wire reinforcing the welded wire. When I loosened the wire, she fell to the ground. Her little body was contorted. One leg was`adjacent to her head, the other was next to her tail. Her wings tips were touching above her back. I thought she was dead, but when I picked her up she moved her head and tried to move her wings. I was in a panic. I tried to bend her legs, but they were rigid. I tried to lay her wings in a normal position, but it caused her pain. The toes were curled into a fist-like position. I could feel no breaks, but she was in very bad shape. I was so tempted to euthanize her then and there, but when I placed her in an empty brooder next to food and water, she drank and ate. Just picture a chick contorted so unnaturally, still not ready to give up.
I checked on her several times a day, always afraid to find her dead or dying.
After 4 days, her legs were in a more natural position, but her toes were still curled, she still could not stand, her wings were close to normal, still she ate and drank in the brooder.
To make the story short, it is now a week since the accident and she managed to get out of the brooder to join her flock. She's a bit slow and a little weak, but she is walking, her toes normal. Her determination to live is astounding. She must have hung by that one toe for up to 2 days, still she never gave up.
Does anyone else have a story of chicken determination? I swear, I have a new respect for this humble bird.

 

[sunflour]

No stories to add, but had to comment on this amazing event. I understand how stressful this was for the both of you. Thank you for sharing the experience. They are amazing and full of surprises.

 

[b.hromada]

That's so amazing!

I'm so happy that little LC is going to be alright. She certainly is a fighter! Go LC!!!

 

[drumstick diva]

We need a picture of this survivor so we can bond with her. Poor baby. She needs a fan club. Food and water are not enough need a neighbor or someone to drop in and see that all is okay.

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

Wow, LC is one very lucky girl. I don't blame you for thinking of euthanizing her, it sounds like her body was very stiff from being in the same uncomfortable position so long. I'm surprised she came out of that. She is very lucky to be alive.

My OEGB hen managed to get hung upside down by her toenail one night, too. Except, she was caught on a tiny hole in the nest box roost (a hole I never knew existed). I found her within seconds of the incident happening (I just so happen to be spending a little extra time organizing the coop that night). A few days later the same hen was found with a feed bag string wrapped around her legs like shackles. I couldn't believe that either. The poor girl was just having a stretch of bad luck that week. She is my little accident prone hen, I keep an eye out for her all the time now.


Determination is something I have witnessed over and over again with my special needs chickens over the years.

Poachy the Black Australorp has to be the hen who showed me this the most. She developed crooked toes at 8 weeks. Around a year old she developed a terrible limp. Around three years old she was beat up by the flock and was unresponsive. Gasping for air, I held her in my arms and told her I loved her. After nearly an hour of saying my good byes to her, she stopped gasping, opened her eyes a crack and looked directly into mine.
In the days that followed I helped balance her as she learned to walk again, her head had a giant bruise but she finally healed. We became incredibly close, and I was all she had (the flock would not accept her).

When Poachy was 4 years old I accidentally dropped her from my arms. She hit the ground and did not soften her fall. Her mobility was taken from her in an instant. I made her a sling, and finally I constructed a wheelchair for her.
Less than a week later, my dear friend slipped away to heaven in the middle of the night.
Poachy taught me how far a loving hand can go. She taught me that with faith and a good attitude, anything is reachable.

I could go on all day about my chickens that have possessed a strong amount of determination, lol.

Enjoy LC. Give her a hug for me.