Three years ago I started posting about chicken rescue and farm sanctuary groups. Since then I have featured half a dozen from England, Australia, the USA and Canada. When I reached out to Temara from The Browns’ Microsanctuary it turns out I was already aware of her, having seen an online video of her rooster Steve that had gone viral.
When we started chatting Steve was a healthy five year old. Unfortunately, over the last few months his health declined and sadly he recently passed away. I’ve written a number of posts about the grief and loss that chicken keepers experience on the death of their birds, and even chicken obituaries and eulogies.
I knew as soon as I heard of Steve’s death that he deserved a whole post of his own. It’s difficult to capture such a larger than life character in a short post as stories about him could surely fill a book. I’d love to see a children’s book about him.
I asked Temara to give me some background about their history and then I chose some photos and stories from her Facebook page.
He was found abandoned in Springbank Park in London, Ontario when he was a day-old chick. A couple going for a walk found him and rushed him to us. That was September 2, 2020. We later found out there were over 30 roosters of a variety of breeds and ages dumped that day. There were other babies found who never made it. Thankfully Cedar Row Farm Sanctuary had volunteers on the scene who caught them and found them safe homes.
The first few days were scary as Steve was battling the consequences of being exposed to the elements on what was a cold, rainy day. I built him a nursery and he grew up in the house. I spent every spare moment with him. He was a doll from the get go. He was our only bantam at the time. I remember worrying about the others being nice to him. By the time he was old enough to consider introducing to the flock, it was February. He was used to lounging in front of the fireplace and we were used to his company.
Baby Steve helped me figure out a design for chicken diapers that I’m still making for people all over the world today. He was patient with me, trying a variety of styles. This one doesn’t need an adjustment period like others do. It’s comfortable from the get-go. I thank Steve for that. But that’s a tangent.
I think it was around Feb/March of 2021 that Margaret arrived. She had survived being bitten by a weasel which left her with an excruciating infection in her hock joint. She stopped eating and her family brought her to us as her needs were beyond their abilities. We got her to emerg, did a culture, found out which antibiotic would work, and she was up walking in two days.
Margaret was in a wheelchair in our basement hospital room while we were waiting for results for all those tests. At some point, teenaged Steve, who lived on the main floor, took advantage of an open door, went down the stairs and danced his heart out for Margaret. She must have swooned hard. They were inseparable from then on. Steve still preferred sleeping in the house on the back of the livingroom recliner. But every day, the first thing he wanted to do was go out and see Margaret. That’s where you get all those videos of him running around, circling her house. That was summer 2021.
Steve is my little cooking buddy. He’s always here whenever we come out to the kitchen. He’s just like the dogs. He knows what the sound of a crinkly bag might mean and he knows how to get what he wants with just a look.
This lil man just saved a dear wee bird’s life. He’s been upstairs looking out the window at the birdies enjoying the bird feeder for a while. We had several doves having a grand ol’ time there when Steve started raising the alarm. I couldn’t see why at first but eventually I spotted them. A big hawk up in the tree, staring down at my wee friends. I opened the window and clapped my hands. The hawk flew away and now everyone is back enjoying themselves again. Steve is a very good boy! He has amazing eyes and a heart of gold. He’s still watching, carrying on with his duty, helping keep our tiny friends safe.
Four years ago, our house rooster Steve gained a following after clips of his morning greetings went viral. This little blue coop has been in another building, out of sight, for four years. We recently brought it out for a deep clean. While on his way up to the house to go to bed, Steve had to pause to circle the coop once more. Steve remembered how happy he used to be to see it! Never let anyone convince you that chickens are not smart! The Dodo just re-released Steve and Margaret’s story so I needed to make this special update. Steve is such a special little guy! Steve and Margaret still spend each day together, inseparable. Until the evenings, when Steve makes his way back up to the house to sleep in his favourite spot on the back of the livingroom recliner.
Steve’s gotta give one final dance and say a goodnight before coming up to sleep on his favourite spot on the back of our livingroom recliner.
We celebrated a pretty big day this month. Our wee Steve turned FIVE this year!
Every time his story is shared by groups like @thedodo, we see comments talking about how Steve is showing people how sweet and loving roosters can be, and how people are choosing not to eat them anymore. He’s saving lives by being his adorable self so he deserves a big party! But all he really cared about was making sure his ladies enjoyed it. He’d take a bite of watermelon and put it down for Margaret to eat. He’s a gentleman.
Steve is the sweetest soul. This year, he even went to a local nursing home to visit residents. We don’t tell Margaret, but he has a few more girlfriends after that day.
Our precious Steve has an upper respiratory infection. I noticed he looked a bit puffy yesterday but it was very subtle. It was nothing like how he looks this morning. Forgive me while I’m over here panicking and trying to figure out a vet appointment.
Wee Steve went to visit the veterinarian last Monday in Guelph. He was such a brave boy until we had to touch his puffy face during the exam. Then he found it all very stressful and scary. Steve is very used to being handled so he wasn’t feeling his best if he was reacting like that. He was so exhausted from the trip that he snuggled right into me and fell asleep on my lap on the ride home.
The vet suspects mycoplasma is the culprit here and recommended an antibiotic. He’s been receiving it for a few days. We have Steve in the house so with us and are keeping an eye on him, hoping this medicine does the trick. Keep fingers crossed it works for our special guy. I thought it was cute when she tried checking his O2 sats on his wee comb.
Last week, Steve returned for a recheck with Dr. Taylor at Campus Estates in Guelph.
We had previously brought Steve to see the vet as he had swelling around his face and what we believed to be an upper respiratory infection. He hasn’t improved with the antibiotic that has previously been prescribed. He got worse. Dr. Taylor immediately put Steve at ease and got on his level. He and his colleague listened to his heart and checked him with the ultrasound and did bloodwork. He said the swelling around his face didn’t feel like it was in his sinuses and believed it be more of a skin thing. He prescribed Steve a very high dose of two antibiotics. I also got Steve some yogurt and special recovery formula to help his tummy.
Steve hasn’t really been himself since we first noticed these symptoms. He wasn’t as talkative and mostly just wanted to find a cozy place and hang out there all day. Last weekend, he just sat on the couch all day and wasn’t interested in anything. We were so worried.
By day 3, it was clear the antibiotics were starting to have a noticeable effect. Steve has been more like his usual self. Normally, wherever we are in the house, that’s where he likes to be too. He’s much more talkative and interested in things like he normally is. We are so relieved. The swelling hasn’t come down any, yet. Poor Steve can’t see in front of him because of it. But we are very grateful to see him looking more himself! We have an appointment booked for next week in case Steve needs it.
We need to send a massive thank you to Ankur for volunteering to make sure Steve made it to his appointment with Dr Taylor! He saved the day! We also need to thank everyone who supported us at vegfests this year who helped us replenish our medical fund. We were able to get Stevie whatever he needed because of you.
He scared the beejeesus out of me when he laid over like this! Steve gets so relaxed in front of the heat dish that he just melts.
Steve is such a good boy! He had an appointment with Dr. Taylor in Guelph today. Steve has been battling an awful infection in his heart valve over the past few months. He went through such a huge and long course of antibiotics with several rounds of bloodwork. This infection is what caused his face to look puffy.
Today we returned as I was concerned about a lump forming on his wattles. It was getting bigger and he was very sensitive about it. Today, he was letting Dr. Taylor examine it no problem. I’m wondering if he had an abscess there and somehow popped it before the appointment? Either way he seems okay, but this appointment also gave us the chance to follow up on his heart.
I helped hold Steve while he had an ultrasound today. He was so good. He held his wing up and moved his leg like he knew what we were asking for. His little heart looked good on the ultrasound. Steve had bloodwork done so we’re waiting for those results. Keep fingers crossed for Steve that we’ve finally beat this gnarly illness. He’s such a special little guy.
I don’t even know how to post this. It’s taken me a few days just to summon the strength. Our beloved wee Steve is gone. He passed on Wednesday afternoon following a very quick decline.
Steve had been battling some medical troubles over the past few months but he was recovering really well. Last Sunday, he looked so much improved that I remember thinking how excited I was that he would soon be running outside with his Margaret now that the weather is getting better. I never would have imagined he’d be gone a few days later.
Steve was a beloved family member. He lived in the house with us and was so much apart of our lives. The hole he’s left is truly unbearable.
The wonderful vet who has been helping our sweet boy did a post-mortem exam. He believes Steve had a pulmonary embolism. This would explain why he was so good and then gone so suddenly.
I need to post more about our special wee guy. For now, this is all I can muster through the tears. I know so many people loved Steve. He was just that special of a soul. We’d love to hear everyone’s favourite memories of him.
Everything we do reminds us of Steve. Wherever we were in the house, Steve wanted to be right beside us. His grandma was down with the flu last week and Steve was always by her side. He could choose to be anywhere and he always chose his family. He was a perfect teddy bear.
I keep looking for him in the sun beams. You could always find Steve and Casey hanging out together there.
Thank you to everyone who has sent their condolences. We know he meant a lot to many people. He did so much just by being his sweet wee self.
We’re overwhelmed by the love that’s come in for our Steve. It’s a comfort to know so many loved him too, even from afar. We even received unsolicited generous donations from Germany and Tennessee in his memory. It’s so meaningful to see how many people took time out of their day to send love his way. He’s truly a very special soul.
Thanks to Temara for sharing her heartfelt story and photos of Steve, used with permission. Stay tuned for more stories of the residents at the Browns’ Microsanctuary.
“Saving one chicken won’t change the world – but it’ll change theirs, and maybe yours too.”
Bitchin' Chickens 
That was a roller coaster… Thank you for sharing. I also stopped eating chicken after witnessing how amazing they are.
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