Uh, something a little Wierd here. The boys came in from setting new bedding in the coop and were freaking out about one of the chickens missing its legs. So I go out there and, sure enough, Joel's Easter Egger that we've had for a couple of years is missing both feet below the joint (the "knee"). For the few who've seen that chicken, it's his chicken that was hatched with the twisted up foot (appropriately named "Gimpy") that Joel insisted on saving. We can't figure out what happened to her feet-- all the other chickens' feet look just fine--no signs of frostbite or anything. The stumps look a little yellowed and like the legs have been that way for at least a few days. It would seem everyone thought Gimpy was just loving dust bathing and snuggling down into the bedding. We can't even find the actual feet.
Oddly, Gimpy seems happy enough. My first instinct was to put the poor chicken down, but Joel is adamant that we not do that. Gimpy does seem quite content and is flapping her way around the coop just fine, though not going out into the run. We put a lower waterer in the door of the coop where she could easily reach and the food is low enough for her to reach. I thought about bringing her inside, but I think she would be quite miserable without her chicken friends and she would have to be locked in the back room with the lizards (which could be rather hazardous to the lizards!) because of the cats.
I now have a double amputee chicken and no idea what to do with her. I'm a pretty practical person, but this is Joel's favorite chicken and I can't bring myself to insist on putting her down when she actually seems so content. Wierd situation.
Oddly, Gimpy seems happy enough. My first instinct was to put the poor chicken down, but Joel is adamant that we not do that. Gimpy does seem quite content and is flapping her way around the coop just fine, though not going out into the run. We put a lower waterer in the door of the coop where she could easily reach and the food is low enough for her to reach. I thought about bringing her inside, but I think she would be quite miserable without her chicken friends and she would have to be locked in the back room with the lizards (which could be rather hazardous to the lizards!) because of the cats.
I now have a double amputee chicken and no idea what to do with her. I'm a pretty practical person, but this is Joel's favorite chicken and I can't bring myself to insist on putting her down when she actually seems so content. Wierd situation.
