Finally, all of the five young chickens were home. And, I had been treating the previously missing one with bag balm on the back of her head for several days. A funny development had come up....whenever I went in the chicken area, the one that had been found started to get hysterical. She'd run around behind the others as if to warn them that I was coming. She didn't want to be caught and was very noisy. I didn't know what to think of it, but continued trying to catch her so that I could "doctor" her.
Meanwhile, one of the larger chickens chased her and started to peck at her. No matter where she went, the other chicken went after her and cornered her to peck at her wound. Even though I had been told that chickens will kill an injured one, I couldn't help try to help this wounded creature. So, I scooped up the big chicken, held it up and told it to "KNOCK IT OFF!", and then tossed it outside.
Now, the logical side of me knew that what I did would probably not make any difference in the actions of chickens, but I had to give it my best shot....which is what I did. I proceeded to doctor the hurt female and talk to her as I did so. Then, I released her and she ran outside of the chicken house, while vocally letting the others know I had been there.
My actions appeared to help the reacceptance of the hurt chicken (or they accepted her coincidentally at the same time frame....whatever) as she started to heal and hang out with the others without being attacked. She still would, however, act hysterical whenever I came out to see the chickens. With all of this in mind, I decided that this girl would need a name. What do you name a chicken that is hysterical, wounded, and marching to her own drummer? I decided that Joan Rivers would make sense....so there it was. The first named chicken would be Joan Rivers! Whala! What would tomorrow bring?
grandson helping wake up the chicks
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