Blood Has Been Shed This Day!

For once on this farm… this story is not about me. Today I tell the story of CJ, whose battle was brief, but shall live on forever…

(in the form of “I told you so’s)

Preface

Yesterday during lunch farm chores, I heard a very loud, unusual, peeping noise coming from the chicken coop. A chicken was in distress. I went up to the coop to investigate. I noticed one chicken huddled in the corner of the coop. She would not move other than to peck at the hanging waterer by her side. I step closer to get a better look and the rooster went crazy attacking the fence. He was in such a frenzy that he briefly got tangled up in the electric netting fence. I tried to lift the egg hatch to get a better view of inside the coop and the rooster attacked again, almost making it over the fence. It was clear he was in a mood on this day. After a couple more tries and him attacking, I was able to distract him with some treats and get the hen to move in the doorway.

The chicken in the coop was not well. Her whole body was puffed up. Swollen, to the point her neck had all but disappeared. I needed to get to her to look her over. I tried to trick him and trap him, but it was of no use. He is a smart, angry bird. He will not be tricked. I was left with no choice but to wait till CJ is home to help.

Attack of the bird

CJ does not fear the rooster. It is just a chicken after all. What harm can it do really? CJ thinks I exaggerate my fear of this bird. Unlike me, he is brave, he is fearless. This bird is no match for him!

CJ exclaims that he will catch this angry rooster for me so that I may enter the coop and rescue my sick hen. He exits the house with utter confidence. I await his efforts inside the house, where I am safe.

Mere moments go by and CJ reenters the house… limping, bleeding. A battle has ensued, and I fear my brave man did not fare well. He has been injured! He revealed that he would not in fact be catching the rooster for me as it had attacked him violently. The rooster’s beak or spur had pierced his flesh and drawn blood. Entering at the side of his knee and penetrating deeply behind the knee cap. A vicious wound indeed. He declared that the rooster must die. It had to be done. This battle was yet to be over.

He slings his weapon over his shoulder and limps back out the door. Softly groaning with each step. He will be victorious, I pray. I wish him luck and close the door as he limps away.

His shot rings out. I wonder if it is over, but another shot rings out. Fear grips me as I envision this bird, this miniature t-rex attacking him, as his shots go astray. I dare not run to him, less I be attacked as well. But, alas, my brave man comes back to me. The rooster is dead, and my sick hen has been rescued to be nursed back to health. My savior. My hero.

Epilogue

The rooster got CJ pretty good and is causing him quite a bit of discomfort. His knee is swollen, red, and painful. The wound is small but deep. Moving his leg even the slightest is causing him a good deal of pain. We cleaned the wound. Resting his leg makes it stiff and the pain worse, so he is trying to keep moving, though he is still limping a good bit.

CJ has a high tolerance of pain, so when he shows discomfort, I know that he is in pain. Hopefully, it improves, if not, he may need to have it looked at tomorrow.

There have been a many of “I told you so’s” today from me and reminders that I (his tiny little wife) have had to endure these attacks for quite some time. I have also been sure to remind him that “It was just a chicken”. He appreciates it when I remind him of those things.

The story to be learned here is that one should always listen to their wife regarding angry birds (or cows, or donkeys).

The sick hen was brought in and looked over. Her swelling had gone down significantly, and I can see no issues obviously wrong with her. I suspect she is egg bound, which means she is having a hard time passing her egg. I soaked her in warm water with Epsom salt and she did perk up and drink eagerly. She also escaped onto my counter causing a commotion with me screaming “There is a chicken loose on my counter!”. Tank freaked out; the cats freaked out. It was quite the ordeal. CJ had to come limping and save the day again. The only thing I can do at this point is apply some Vaseline to her vent and hope she is able to pass the egg. We got her dried off with the blow dryer and set her up in a crate in the basement. I will be checking on her and my injured husband often.

Never a dull moment on the farm!