S & M

STATE & MAIN - the story
 
A breeder in North Carolina raised Langshans, and had a particularly regal roo named Saddleback.

Desiring to share in the bounty of this wonderful Roo, two dozen eggs were sent to the PacNW from North Carolina. Some I incubated, some I put under broodies. Twenty two days later - well over a dozen fuzzy chicks emerged, among them, somewhere -  a contender for the throne of "Flock Roo".

One morning, after the big hatch, I heard a bunch hollering from a hen who had hatched a quorum. She was jumping around flailing her wing to beat the band. When I finally was able to get a hold of her, I found that somehow, stuck to the underside of her wing was a little black chick glued to her and suspended by his own little wing. After I separated them, inside he came to live in the brooder with the others.

His poor wing just dragged and was clearly broken in I don't know how many places. I tried to set it. After 24 hours or so, I removed the sling. His wing was all curled up behind him at wrong angles as if he were trying to reach and scratch his back.

I called an Exotic Bird Vet who agreed to see him (for cheep!) and show me how to set a wing, so I put him in a little cigar box and off we went. The scene at the bird vet was hilarious.

"Thanks for coming in, here's your paper work. So where's the chicken?"
"In this box".
"Oh. Well, were gonna need a smaller scale to weigh him".

The paperwork was exhausting.

Breed of exotic pet: Chicken
Age (month/year): 6 days
Sex: Not yet!
Name of exotic pet: (I sighed, looked out the window and scribbled down the first thing I saw).

"Follow me into this exam room. So, where's the chicken?"
"In this box"
"Oh. Looks like we're going to need a smaller needle".

There was no saving his wing, and i was warned that he'd likely die. If not, he was just going to remain all crippled - but I DID get a good lesson on how to wrap an injured wing.

In the days that followed I watched as his bad wing became shriveled and leathery and curled and stiff. I felt bad figuring it would always be a source of grime and irritation. He kept eating though, and growing! 2nd biggest in his group! Then one day, that ugly wing just fell off! A nice clean break. I don't think the vet could have done as nice a job of amputating it.

A week or so later I got a postcard from the exotic bird vet.


"...We sincerely hope that your pet, "State & Main" is doing well".

He was thriving.

Underdogs do pretty well on our farm. He's welcome to live on in peace.

Here's his baby pic!

And here is today. The center of all being - realizing nothing of his disability -and- crowing for the day.

End notes: S & M's progeny, aptly named First & State, was introduced to a flock in Snohomish WA where his manners and good looks will be further appreciated. Hatching eggs from the original Langshan Sire's line are still available from North Carolina.