Friday, May 31, 2013

A Bird in Ten Thousand


What's the title about?  Well, that famous chicken is actually one of a kind, but there is another statistic that applies to her.  Apparently, chickens can rarely (you guessed it, about one in ten thousand) take on the characteristics of a rooster, if they have something happen to their ovaries and the balance of hormones tips into the high testosterone camp. They aren't truly roosters, since they can't fertilize eggs, but they come pretty close. 


When this happens the chicken's comb and wattles grow larger. 


They will grow spurs.  (She has some pretty awesome spurs for a chicken - especially since she's short on toes from her earlier frostbite trauma.)  

And they crow.  She gets up in the morning and gives a very earnest, but not terribly musical, 'cock-a-doodle-do'. 


Even so, she's still the same sweet chicken that likes to sunbathe and take dirt baths.


 She still likes to pose in picturesque locations.



She's very fond of string cheese.
 
 Seriously - she can eat the whole stick!


And she likes a dish of morning tea. 

These are all photos I took while visiting earlier this month, because she has only one tail feather and no feathers on her back right now.  

Here's the update after the dog attack.  The chicken is still valiantly fighting for her life.  Her wounds are very bad, but she's a tough little bird and we hope for the best.  Unfortunately, it looks like there might be some infection setting in where the deep puncture wounds are and it's hard to get antibiotics into her.  My sister and sister-in-law gathered worms and centipedes for her last night and she ate them all, so she still has an appetite, but she's losing weight.  Today, she went out for the first time since the dog attack and got to look under turned rocks and logs for her own tasty bugs and worms.  

Many thanks for the good thoughts you've shared and sent her way.  Please keep them coming - she's a well loved bird.   

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

We love you, Chicken!!! Keep fighting and get well soon. Webfoot, thanks for your wonderful stories, even if this one is sad. Let us all know if we can help. Sending prayers!

Webfoot said...

Thanks! They really appreciate the support and chicken love!! :) And she seemed a bit better this morning, so we keep hoping for her tough little spirit to prevail - again!!

Anonymous said...

Hang in there, sweet Chicken! You have such a cute personality in your pictures, and your humans love you...

Floridafour

Fluffy Cow said...

Any chicken that loves cheese is a friend to me! Hang in there Chicken!

Anonymous said...

Keep fighting, Chicken! You are very special and well loved. Don't give up!

Anonymous said...

Dear Fighting Chicken, you can do it! We believe in you and are thinking of you daily.

Yours in avian solidarity,
The Navigoose

Anonymous said...

After all of her adventures, this chicken is a bird in a million. Hoping for a speedy recovery!!

AlpineConch said...

Sure you hope you make it - your people love you, Chicken!

Anonymous said...

Get better soon!
Keep sending updates.
Ona Journey

Anonymous said...

Hi, everyone. This is the Chicken's Mom. Yup! It's really me. I want to thank you all for your good wishes and prayers. The chicken is doing really well. She is even started to grow feathers back. Unbelievable! We couldn't have done it without you!!! Thanks again.

D

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting the good news. So glad she is feeling well and growing feathers back!