Many challenges face us chicken keepers. If it’s not illness or injury then it’s parasites or predators. The following tales involve other situations that include assisting chicks to hatch, offering heroic first aid measures and rescuing lost birds.
A little over a week ago my broody Silkie, Precious, decided she didn’t want to be a mama. I was left with five eggs that she had been sitting on. I haven’t even been a chicken tender for a year yet. I didn’t want to throw the eggs out and felt so bad. The only thing I had to keep them warm was about 100 hand warmers that I got from work at a big delivery company. They each lasted about eight or so hours. I also used a shoulder heating pad. I just did this on a whim; I didn’t even think they would survive. I got up every couple hours to make sure the temperature was good. Sometimes it was off and I had to to what I could to raise it or bring it down a tad. I kept wet paper towels in there for moisture. Tonight I was opening the last hand warmer and I unexpectedly heard a noise. I held the egg to my ear because I thought I was crazy. I had to help the baby out in the end. I know y’all probably think I’m crazy; my husband does. – Catherine Wabsis
I had a freaking crazy morning. A chick hatched a few days ago – wrong time of year and this is a new mama. I went out this morning to check on everyone and found it dead in the run. Cold, not breathing, just gone. I decided to try CPR. Yes, CPR on a chick. After seven minutes of rubbing and giving it mouth to beak I got a breath! It’s now warming up on my lap wrapped up in the heating pad and I’ve gotten a couple peeps out of it. If it makes it – I will definitely need a unique name for this one.
Update! Little “Chance” is back to normal and in a brooder box with a friend. It’s a frizzle and hopefully it grows into a beautiful healthy hen! – Nicolette Buckman
One day our hen Jackie was just gone. No feathers anywhere. We searched and called and finally gave up. A week passed, then Terry was out by the woodshed where there was a large planter pot turned over. He heard some scratching and thought it might be a rat. He turned it over and there was Jackie, no worse for wear. She must have jumped on the edge of the planter which then flipped over on her. She was a lucky because the next day we had a huge snowstorm and she would have been buried. When she ran out, happy as anything, she just started scratching around like a normal chicken. We now make sure there is nothing lying around that could trap our chickens. – Laurie Jackson
Last night, while cleaning my six chicken’s coop, my Wyandotte came barreling in with a big hawk on her back. It was terrifying and I was paralyzed with fear. You never really think it will happen while on your watch, but I had to learn the hard way. I’m so glad she came running in with it because, otherwise, she would be dead. After I snapped out of the shock I grabbed that hawk in a vice grip and had to pry its talons out of her face. I had it by both feet by then and threw it out of the coop. – Kim Janson
Definitely not me jumping out of bed at 11:30pm and running outside in the cold in my PJs to check all the locks on my chicken coop because I had a dream I found my chickens dead. Yep. Definitely was me! Everyone is secured. – Dorathy Bowler
I was on my way out of town when I saw cars stopping and swerving to avoid hitting a chicken. Needless to say I was late to my meeting but it was 100% worth it to save her. I have named her Holly in honour of the season. As you can see, her side eye game is strong. – Teresa Pless White
New chicken mom here. I was ugly crying when I saw her. She’s one of the fastest chickens I have so, of course, I’m running around chasing my freerange hen as well as keeping an eye on Blaze (rooster) since I’m harassing his lady. I was so upset thinking the other girls were picking on her! I lost about 2 lbs from running. I got chased and chased some, slipped twice in the mud. It was just pure chaos for about 15 minutes. I caught and examined her; no injuries or blood. Phew, dodged that bullet.
Then I checked her for lice. Or maybe I had mites in my coop? At that point I’m in full blown panic mode thinking how I’m going to contain this and separate her? A simple one minute Google search has told me she is moulting. This chicken mom needs a chill pill. – Jojo Smith
Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and photos. Featured photo credit: IStock
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