The Radar Chronicles!!

[DulcyDoll]

As it turns out, the pendulum test says Radar is a girl...

She has been living with her sisters, and getting on great. They take care not to run her over too often, and cuddle with her when they take their many naps. I'm hoping that they will stay friends throughout their adulthood, so I can keep them, or at least 2 of them together.
Oh, I haven't had to dip her beak in 3 days

She, for the most part, finds it on her own, she lifts her foot up high to find the edge of it and holds it there while she drinks, otherwise she will spin in circles and get lost, I do put my hand in and guide her to it at least three times a day, just to be sure she is drinking.

The woman I used to get my birds from said I should have culled poor Radar. Made me a bit upset, but.... Its my decision, I am the one who has to put the work into it, so why can't they just wish me luck for my little girl? Anyway, I think she was just mad that I didn't buy hens from her to replenish my flock..lol But she charges an arm and a leg for a mutt hen

 

[TheNewMrsEvans]

I thought she was just blind...had no ideas she had no eyes! Does anyone know anything about the genetics behind that?
She is aweful cute, and that lady was dumb...i don't cull anything unless it's sick. She is not sick, just different! I'm glad she is well...and has you to look after her!

 

[michelle1017]

That is just inhumane! Just because she is blind doesn't mean she can't live a fairly normal life with guidance from her siblings and "mama" looking out for her! She is just adorable, keep up the good work with her and I wish you all the best! Looking forward to hearing more about Radar!

 

[Lanissa86]

Wow! Sounds like she is progressing well! Be sure to keep us all updated on her! I hope your pendelum test was right! I am interested in seeing if she does grow up to be a pullet!

Hope to see more pics of her soon as well, she has a darling look to her, so much fluff, its just to cute!

 

[MagsC]

Very cute. And if YOU dont mind her having no eyes, being the one who has to take care of her, I dont see why anyone else should!
I would do the same thing.

 

[cjeanean]

she is so adorable! I don't care if she doesn't have any eyes, animals can adjust. As long as she isn't in the wild, and even then chickens are flock animals so she would have to stay close to the sounds and whatnot from her flock mates. Good luck, and keep the pics coming!!!

 

[DulcyDoll]

Haven't updated in a while, figured those who are interested would like one

Radar is now a whopping 28 days! Seems like less.

She is, of course, still smaller than the other 2, but is growing and feathering out wonderfully. I switched them to wood chips about a week ago I guess, and put in a small cardboard beer flat in for their food, as im not sure she is quite ready to eat from a feed trough. She does really well on the chips, she has realized that they are not food and doesn't peck at them in search of food. She knows where the food is located and finds her way quickly from the other side of the brooder when she gets hungry. I had to raise the waterer, this gave her trouble for the first day or so. She was used to having it at foot level and would actually search with her foot to find it and step one foot up on the edge when she was drinking (i assume so that she wouldn't lose it while swallowing) so having to find it now has become her walking to the side of the brooder and following the wall until she gets her chest up to the edge of the waterer then drinks.

She has been ROOSTING as well!! I was shocked to wake up one night to her roosting on the side of the beer flat with her sisters, since then i have made a small roost, it is 2 wooden dowels one lower and one higher (figuring she would roost on the lower) but she is the only one to use it, the top bar at that.

I am very happy with her progress thus far. I'm thinking she will have to stay indoors a bit after her sisters are allowed out, just because she is behind on the feathering situation as well. So, I'm hoping to find someone near who is hatching chicks that I can get another(or 2) to keep her company and will grow with her so they can all move out together.

 

[Namaste Mama]

Aww bless her little heart and yours. What a neat story, I'm so glad to here thats she's doing well! Keep up the good work! GO Radar!

 

[DulcyDoll]

Well..its been about 7 months since my little blind girl hatched. Been a long time since I updated on her. I am happy to announce that she is thriving! She lived indoors through winter, and resided in the house until about 3 days ago. I split my coop into 75/25% and she lives in there. I had a little california white chick in with her, but we have had problems with rats, and unfortunatly one got her the first night they were together. Her sister, who was lost for 2 weeks during winter and as a result has lost all of the tips of her toes due to frostbite, now lives with her. Radar is a little smaller than her sister..but at least she has toenails! lmao!

We have all become very attached to Radar, while she lived in the house, she would free-range the living room, somtimes jumping up on the couch to cuddle under the blanket, or roosting on someones foot. The dogs love her, the cats keep an eye on her, and Mom liked to talk to her early in the morning. She is some kind of chicken..spoiled rotten... She hasn't layed an egg yet, but neither has her sis, so whatever...

Sorry to drag up such an old thread, but it was long overdue for a update on the little buff orpington chick that, according to dad, "should have been taken care of as soon as she hatched, because she will never survive" HAHA i showed him...right?

I'll get new pics up tomorrow

 

[crtrlovr]

I remember reading this when you first posted, and have thought about it a few times since then. I'm SO glad you decided to update! It's good to hear she's adapting, and kudos to you for giving her a chance at a normal chicken-life!

Great news! Thanks for sharing. *waiting for updated pics!*