Wally's Journal - A Rescue Hen

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Okay... I just read through this whole thread! I cannot get over how she is a completely different color from when you found her! How did that happen!?
And I just love this story and how much she and her ducky friend love each other! Watching him makes me really want some ducks.. was thinking about getting some this year... we’ll see.
I have tried three times to catch a lost chicken or two but it didn’t happen... I would LOVE to have this opportunity! So happy for you and her!
 
@WhoDatChick - I am so happy to have a new Wally fan on board! It warms my heart to see more people supportive of her story and reading about her. Funny enough, the missing patch of feathers on her back is what came in a different color at first- really dark copper brown I guess you could say against the pale red. She slowly molted, and all that is left is her head feathers coming back in now. It makes me wonder if she wasn't really malnourished or something, causing the different colors.

We've always had very wonderful Khaki Campbells, but hand raising our last group and really involved training as youngsters led to amazingly friendly and well behaved adults. And I am really proud of Tater for being such a good boy to Wally. He is always very vocal and excited about everything- they often get out in the morning and he stands on the tips of his feet and flaps his wings, running in circles. She ducks down and spreads her wings at the same time, hop-flapping around. They're a hoot together.

My husband, truly love him, is the one to have actually caught her. Between him and I and the little older lady with her towel who pulled her car over and got out to help (what a soul) - we managed to catch her with a team effort. If I would've been by myself, she would not have been caught, because she was very feisty and quick to be tired and overheated as she was. I was truly scared she would run into the middle of the road and be hit, but the only saving grace was that she wanted shade so she kept running back under the same parked truck. (That is when a big, soft net with very fine mesh would be handy for someone who rescued birds often.) Then she rode home with my husband holding her, and the rest is history!
 
HomesteaderWife said:
@WhoDatChick - I am so happy to have a new Wally fan on board! It warms my heart to see more people supportive of her story and reading about her. Funny enough, the missing patch of feathers on her back is what came in a different color at first- really dark copper brown I guess you could say against the pale red. She slowly molted, and all that is left is her head feathers coming back in now. It makes me wonder if she wasn't really malnourished or something, causing the different colors.

We've always had very wonderful Khaki Campbells, but hand raising our last group and really involved training as youngsters led to amazingly friendly and well behaved adults. And I am really proud of Tater for being such a good boy to Wally. He is always very vocal and excited about everything- they often get out in the morning and he stands on the tips of his feet and flaps his wings, running in circles. She ducks down and spreads her wings at the same time, hop-flapping around. They're a hoot together.

My husband, truly love him, is the one to have actually caught her. Between him and I and the little older lady with her towel who pulled her car over and got out to help (what a soul) - we managed to catch her with a team effort. If I would've been by myself, she would not have been caught, because she was very feisty and quick to be tired and overheated as she was. I was truly scared she would run into the middle of the road and be hit, but the only saving grace was that she wanted shade so she kept running back under the same parked truck. (That is when a big, soft net with very fine mesh would be handy for someone who rescued birds often.) Then she rode home with my husband holding her, and the rest is history!
Click to expand...
That is so awesome that yall caught her! I always wonder if I should be packin some stale bread for just such an occasion! 😄
I also think what a sight it must be to see a woman chasing a chicken around a parking lot and on the back of her car there is a Crazy Chicken Lady sticker... go figure!
Once I was walking around an empty lot clucking and crowing 😳 trying to find a lost chicken! I swear, he really was there!
 
@WhoDatChick - We did try to actually offer her food to attract her in at first and she wouldn’t pay any attention to it. I can’t blame you for walking around trying to call for the bird!
I know it may seem like “crazy chicken people” behavior, but people do the same for more pet-viewed animals like dogs or cats. It just shows compassion for trying to help a displaced critter.
I still laugh that I literally said to my husband shortly before finding Wally, hmm, I haven’t had any crazy rescue mission pets. I didn’t specify the type! I’ve rescued and adopted feral cats years back, but actually saving a displaced animal that appeared to have been dumped was a first. We love her, and I’m thankful she’s seemed to return the happy feelings.
 
WhoDatChick said:
Okay... I just read through this whole thread! I cannot get over how she is a completely different color from when you found her! How did that happen!?
And I just love this story and how much she and her ducky friend love each other! Watching him makes me really want some ducks.. was thinking about getting some this year... we’ll see.
I have tried three times to catch a lost chicken or two but it didn’t happen... I would LOVE to have this opportunity! So happy for you and her!
Click to expand...
***Disclaimer: No chickens or ducks were harmed in this story.
Your saying that you want to add ducks to your flock made me remember something funny. Waaaaay back when we first got chickens, the plan was to be more self sufficient, have fresh eggs & eventually, when they stopped laying eggs as frequently, we were going to have fresh chicken.

So we planned, built our Barred Rock Hotel & got our first flock. Knowing ZERO about chickens, I thought "this is a good plan." They were friendly, inquisitive and didn't peck me when I wanted to collect eggs. Hard to believe that I was a bit nervous to get close, as I didn't know what they'd do or how they'd act.

As I got familiar with them, got to know their little personalities & named 'em, I found that less than a week into the planned chicken raising adventure that things were going to change & that every single one would live out their days in peace, with no danger of winding up as dinner.

After many knots in the stomach & no small amount of trepidation over the next week, I told my husband that "Yeah, that plan? Not gonna happen. New plan: we are running an old age home for chickens."

To my surprise & relief, he just laughed and said that he was wondering how long it was going to take me.

Several years later, we were driving somewhere & the subject of food came up. I mentioned that I'd had duck several times & really liked it. To my amazement he said "Well, maybe we could get some ducks and once they stop laying..."

"Seriously? Did you learn NOTHING from the chicken plan? Do you WANT to have an old age home for ducks, too??" Needless to say, we didn't add ducks, though they're amazing creatures.

Geeze Louise, I can't kill 'em once I know 'em! Nothing against those who do & I understand the reasoning but when I eat a bird, it's no one I know//knew.

In another twist of irony, I have a mixed flock & there's not a beautiful Barred Rock living in the Barred Rock Hotel now. We'll get there again, I'm sure.

Love the stories, pics & video of Wally & Tater.
Glad that they continue to do well & have settled into a happy companionship.
 
Hi everyone. Glad everyone is doing fine.

I used to be called the crazy cat lady because I had 6 when I was in CA. Then we moved and a 11 week old kitten just happened to show up under our deck late at night from the side road. Lots of strays here. A friend of mine was also called the same thing with 5 cats. The most I've had at one time is 7. We rescued feral mama cats that was ready to burst open with little babies. Three one summer. It was fun, exciting to do this and we had help finding them all homes. That was in 2012 before we moved.

I don't think I can have a chicken dinner from our girls or boys. We do collect the eggs and our neighbors also ask if they could get some eggs. Sometimes we give them away and other times they pay for them. Our Doc has even paid for some eggs. We are a close rural family around our neighbors. It can fun living out here except the winter. Looking up on a dark rural area night you can see the milky way. That was cool to see in our front yard at night.
 

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