Fowl NOT Foul - February 1999

1st February 1999 was a cold but beautiful day. The morning was bright, and in the afternoon we were blessed with a spectacular sunset. It had clouded over during early afternoon, with thin veils of Stratus formation completely covering the whole sky. As the evening drew in the entire sky subtly turned a pale but uniform shade of rose, which gradually deepened as time went by. The thin layers of Stratus had dissipated the red light from the sunset over the whole of the visible atmosphere, so that it glowed warmly and looked absolutely spectacular in its' homogenised pink. The rose glow was picked out beautifully by the feathers of the gander and especially the goose, whose Brecon pinky-buff colouring was accentuated by the unusual light and looked gorgeous.

Roadkill, the little chick who went off its' legs at the end of December 1998, is continuing to recover slowly but surely. The vitamin supplements I have been giving her are working well, and she moves around and tries to exercise her legs as much as she can. Her legs are now much stronger, and she does not shuffle about on her shanks anymore.However, the right foot is still causing her problems - she cannot use the toes very well, and finds it impossible to get the toes into the correct position so that she can stand. She tries to stand time and time again, but the dysfunctional foot put paid to her efforts every time, causing her to overbalance quickly. On 4th January I spoke to my Vet, as I was unsure if I was doing the right thing by trying to help Roadkill for the past five weeks, and wether I should send the little pullet for euthanasia. I discussed Roadkill's condition with the Vet, who suggested that I was doing the right thing by Roadkill, and that I should give the little bird another month to recover, and then decide her fate.

On the following day I decided that the foot needed a splint of some kind to encourage it to stay in the correct position. Roadkill was having problems with keeping the hind toe on each foot back, so I strapped and held them in position using narrow strips of sticking plaster, ensuring that I had not pulled them too tightly. The little bird did not even seem to notice the plasters on it's feet, and could already keep its' balance more easily with the hind toes held back in the correct position, enabling the feet to grip the ground and stopping them slipping forward. I bound the toes on the right foot into the correct position using thin strips ofsticking plaster, and as soon as I did this, Roadkill began to attempt to stand properly and normally. She would be successful for a few minutes, but then her weak leg muscles would tire and she'd sink back down into a sitting position again.

On 5th February, the following morning, I discovered that little Roadkill had been pecking at the plaster holding her right foot in the correct position. It had come undone, and the foot had reverted to it's previous twisted position. So I constructed a sturdier but still gentle splint for Roadkill's foot, consisting mainly of an egg-shaped piece of flat cardboad. This cardboard was placed under the right foot, and the toes gently but firmly taped to it, so that the foot was held in the correct position for Roadkill to stand with.This makeshift splint worked well, and enabled the little pullet to walk much more easily and keep her balance better. By 8th February Roadkill was able to use the right foot without the aid of the splint, though the hind toes were still required to be taped back. She still needs a lot of practice walking, balancing,and her weak right leg muscles need strenthening. Occaisionally the right foot reverts back to it's bad positioning, but Roadkill can usually remedy that problem herself by repeatedly replacing the foot on the ground until it is in the correct and comfortable position.

On 9th February I photographed Ernie, as she is continuing to moult well. More beautiful slaty feathers are coming through, and she has nearly finished growing a magnificent new crest. First of all I attempted to photograph her in the garden, but she kept moving around jerkily and trying to run and fly away, making it difficult for me to get a decent picture. So I brought Ernie indoors, where she tends to act more calmly and pays loving attention to her human companions.

Below: Ernie in the kitchen. The neat grey-lavender feathers on her back with the pale edges giving a scalloped effect are new, whereas the brownish ones on her side are last years' faded feathers, still to be moulted out. Ernie's earlobes and face are not looking as yellow as they were last month - this should indicate that she will start laying her beautiful blue eggs again soon.

Above: As Ernie was in the house, it seemed convenient to give her a one-to-one introduction to Roadkill.

Left: I placed Ernie on the floor near Roadkill. She clucked a friendly greeting to the youngster, who in return made herself look as large as she could, and stared unblinkingly straight into Ernie's eyes, lifting her head to the same level as the older bird. Roadkill was trying to challenge Ernie, who stood still submissively.

This surprised me, as I had expected Ernie (being a whole year older than Roadkill and an experienced egg-layer) to try and dominate the younger bird.

Left: Roadkill continued to stare Ernie out, and stretched her neck closer and closer until she could just about reach Ernie's face without taking a step forward. Ernie continued to stay completely still until the younger bird aimed a peck at her. Then Ernie turned away, slowly and submissively making her way to the kitchen door so as not to provoke the aggressive pullet. Roadkill did not chase Ernie or make any other attempt to press her dominant position.

The attempt to introduce Roadkill and Ernie ina friendly manner had not worked, so I took Ernie back out into the garden where she could forage in relative peace with familiar company.

With Roadkill quickly recovering, she wouldsoon be fit enough to be re-introduced to the flock. This would need to be done gradually and with great care, otherwise the delicate little pullet may be killed by the angry flock of thirteen in the back garden. I wondered if Roadkill would remember her sibling, Biscuit, and her foster mum, Michael CaineAlan Partridge Brahma, and whether they would remember Roadkill.This seemed to be the most logical introduction to try first, a sthese three birds had once shared a nest together.

Right: Michael Caine Alan Partridge Brahma and Biscuit on 9th February 1999.

First of all, I placed Michael Caine Alan Partridge Brahma and Biscuit on the floor about three feet away from Roadkill so that they could all look at each other from a distance. But as soon as I did this, the Brahma raised her hackles, rushed straight over to little Roadkill and started to peck her about the head, emitting angry-sounding clucks. Immediately I took the Brahma away so that she could not hurt her foster daughter, who was squawking in terror and trying her best to clamber up the stairs to escape her angry mother.

Roadkill was not injured by Michael Caine Alan Partridge Brahma, and I did not want any further fights to happen because poor Roadkill is unfairly disadvantaged by her imperfect foot. So I took the Brahma away back to the Ark, out of sight of the two young pullets.

Right and far right: As soon as the threat of the huge and daunting Brahma had gone, Biscuit and Roadkill began to size each other up. They stood facing each other, Roadkill raising her hackles and tail aggressively, and both pullets making threatening noises at each other.

I did not expect this to happen - the sisters obviously did not remember their friendly days together in the nest. I watched them carefully, ready to intervene at any moment if a fight did start to break out.

Right: Without a fight actually beginning, Biscuit managed to drive Roadkill away into the corner of the room using threatening behaviour. Biscuit wanted to fight her sister, so I removed Biscuit and placed her back with her foster mum in the Ark in the front garden.

Biscuit has developed colour in her face more quickly than Roadkill has. This is most likely due to the fact that Biscuit has been living outside permanently since 28th January 1999, and the action of natural sunlight on her skin would have activated the hormones linked to pigment secretion in her face, comb and wattles. It is still not possible to tell exactly what type of comb Biscuit will grow, though so far the most likely comb styles seem to be rose, cushion or buttercup.

Both Biscuit and Roadkill have retained the few feathers which I first noticed on their legs as chicks. The speckling/spangling on their feathers has been handed down to them by their father, a handsome Leghorn rooster with chestnut and black speckles/spangles on his mainly white plumage.

By Monday 15th February little Roadkill had had sufficient walking practice to be able to control herself enough to be allowed out into the back garden to exercise. Before I let her out, I wanted to find out if she would get on with the Brahma and Biscuit, so I placed them in the kitchen together, and obseved them (below):

Interestingly, the Brahma did not rush at Roadie and attack her as she had previously - but little Roadkill wisely stayed out of her way, anyway. As long as Roadie kept away, then the Brahma did not mind her presence.

On this first day out, I restricted Roadkill to the unfenced area of the garden, out of the way of the rest of the flock. This way, Roadkill would be able to practice running about and exercising her legs without hassle from the other hens,and there would be no danger of her falling into the goosebath and drowning.

I let Michael Caine Alan Partridge Brahma and Biscuit run with the rest of the flock, so that they could familiarise themselves with their new companions.

The rest of the flock stared at Michael Caine Alan Partridge Brahma and Biscuit, and slowly walked closer to the newcomers in order to get a better look at them. To avoid conflict, I immediately fed the flock, and after they had eaten, they seemed to forget that the Brahma and Biscuit had joined them. The newcomers did not draw attention to themselves and were able to escape from and avoid even the most aggressive and territorial Ex-Battery hens - for the majority of the time ,anyway ! When an attack did happen (which wasn't often !), the Brahma and Biscuit were able to expertly dodge amongst the brambles and raspberry canes to elude the angry beaks.

On 15th February I took portrait photographs of most of the flock, especially the Ex-Battery hens. These portraits show the hens' individual eye colours and various comb shapes which help me distinguish one bird from another.

Above: 9-Volt. 9-Volt has become a friendly little hen, and frequently crouches to be picked up when I walk past or near her.	Right: Nicad. Nicad has not much interest in being picked up or stroked, preferring to run away and keep her feet on the ground.
Above: Alkacell. Alkacell has become more friendly too, and will crouch for me - but only when she feels like it !	Above: Duracell. Currently Duracell is moulting, so she hates to be picked up or touched at the moment - she runs away wherever possible ...
Above: Ever-Ready. Surprisingly, Ever-Ready has become a sociable little bird. She used to be flighty and extremely difficult to catch, but this month she has begun to crouch for me, even when I am not intending to pick her up !	Above: Energiser. She has an unusual green eye colour. Energiser is one of the friendliest birds.
Above: Lithium. Lithium is not such a friendly hen as she was when first rescued - she has realised her independance, and relishes it. She will still crouch to be picked up, but only when she feels like it !	Above: Greencell. Greencell has a distinctive cluck, sounding grating, as though she is a heavy smoker (which of course she isn't!). She is also a friendly hen, who stands still and waits to be picked up, rather than crouching for me.
Above: Uniross. Uniross is also a friendly, crouching bird.	Above: Varta, investigating my camera ! Varta is an amenable little bird, who crouches, wanting to be picked up almost every time she comes near me !
Above: Prunella, staring at something extremely fascinating she has spotted. She has the largest and most upright comb of all the ISA Browns in the flock. Pruie is also a friendly bird, but will run away if she does not want to be caught.	Above: Ernie. Ernie is still moulting heavily, and therefore does not like to be handled at the moment. Otherwise, she is a characterful hen who will follow me around from garden to garden.

At the end of the day the Ex-Battery hens ,White Tara, Ernie, Prunella and the geese were locked into their normal roosting-house, the shed in the back garden. Michael CaineAlan Partridge Brahma and Biscuit were put into the Poultry Ark to roost. Little Roadkill was brought indoors for the night, as she has not yet learned to perch, and would become chilled on the cold Ark floor if I had let her sleep out there. She also had an empty crop, which needed to be filled before I would let her sleep.

For the following week, the Brahma and Biscuit were put with the rest of the flock during the day, and shut in the Poultry Ark at night. Roadkill was also let out during the day, but brought back into the house at night for a perching lesson. On Roadie's second day out, she kept trying to push her way through the fence in order to get the company of the other fowl; and Michael Caine Alan Partridge Brahma and Biscuit stayed near Roadkill (right).

I decided to let Roadkill run with the rest of the flock, as she seemed so deperate to get to them. I stayed for a while and supervised the flock to check that Roadie was able to escape the attentions of the Ex-Battery hens. When I lifted the black pullet over the fence and gently dropped her to the ground, I was surprised to see that she did not use her wings to flap and steady her landing - it was as if she had forgotten how to use them.

Intermittently, members of the flock would come to investigate Roadkill, who could easily escape by dodging amongst the raspberry canes. She could also run quickly and strongly if the need arose, so I left her with the flock, reassured in the knowledge that little Roadkill could protect herself from attack and use her legs properly.

Above: Roadkill, Biscuit and Michael Caine Alan Partridge Brahma looking at each other through the fence, but showing no signs of aggression.

Unfortunately, Roadkill continued to be reluctant to eat while with the flock, preferring to eat while in human company. So I continued to bring her into the house every evening. When in the house, she would not eat while caged, preferring to walk around in the living room with the company of humans, especially me. If I sat on the settee and left the little pullet on the floor, she would try to clamber up onto my lap to sit with me.

On 22nd February 1999 I checked the birds' moulting progress, and for any signs of lice or mites. Most ofvthe birds had no or only a few lice and mites on them, but Ever-Ready and Greencell each had a small infestation. I treated the whole flock with an organic preparation containing Pyrethrum, changed all nesting material, and treated the nests and perches also.

Most of the Ex-Battery hens have completely replaced all their feathers now, apart from:

Prunella is still in the progress of a full moult, but just needs to replace her wings and tail. She is growing three new primaries, which are only visible on her clipped wing at present.

White Tara is not moulting, though she is due to, as her feathers are still last year's - they are tatty at the edges, and have weathered to a dirty yellow colour.

Ernie is still moulting, and has completely replaced all her feathers apart from her wing primaries, secondaries and coverts. Her new tail feathers are still short, but are lengthening up nicely.

Every day, for the past week and until the end of the month, Ernie has been visiting a nestbox and sitting in it. She spends about an hour there, then goes to join the rest of the flock. But she does not look uncomfortable in the nest, and she is not straining to expel an extra-large or broken egg. This concerned me, and I repeatedly checked Ernie's abdomen for the feel of an egg inside her. However, on further examination by a Vet, it was discovered that Ernie does not have an egg inside her at all. She may have just formed a habit of retiring to a nestbox each day, perhaps for a rest; or she may have a hormonal problem which is causing her to think that she is laying a 'phantom egg' ,in the same way that some mammals have 'phantom pregnancies' ! I have been advised to keep an eye on her behaviour in case anything develops.

Meanwhile, I have discovered that little Roadkill is now imprinted to humans. This means that she has forgotten how to be a chicken, and now thinks that she is a human being. The Vet informed me that it is very difficult to reverse the imprinting process, although it is possible. I immediately started researching the possibility of house-training Roadkill,as a non-house trained imprinted bird would make an awful mess all over my soft-furnishings ! At the moment I have the time to follow her around with cleaning equipment, but this would not bepossible forever, and potentially, little Roadkill could live to be fifteen or even eighteen (the oldest age I have heard of for a bantam rooster) !.

I was put into contact with some Animal, Bird and Parrot Behaviourists, who gave me advice as to how to go about house-training Roadkill. The little chicken should take to the training well, as it has recently been proven that chickens are only fractionally less-intelligent than the brightest parrots.