Little Miss Penny had kind of a rough morning today. When I went out to do my morning chores, I found her hanging upside down by one of her toe nails from the top edge of the aluminum chicken feed container. Poor little thing!
She was very cold - the temperature was hovering around 38 degrees (there was still ice on the water trough) - and she was VERY stuck! It took me a bit to wiggle her toe nail out from the folded topside of the tube feeder, but finally managed to work her free.
Her leg was very stiff, and she didn't care for me trying to get her to bend it up next to her body. Nothing seemed to be broken or out of joint, thankfully! I brought her in the house to warm her up and give her some warm scrambled eggs and some vitamin water to replenish her a bit. I have no idea how many hours she'd been hanging there -- it could have been upwards of 2 to 3 hours if she got stuck first thing this morning!
At lunchtime, I took her back out to the hen house to see how she got along, but she favored her leg enough for me to feel sorry for her -- so back in the house she went! Here's how she's spending her day on my cutting table... with snacks and beverages, wrapped in a towel to keep her warm, in a shoebox-sized plastic storage tub (no lid). What a life! She coo's to me. How sweet!
This is the same hen that manged to get stuck in the WALL of the hen house before the walls were finished. I noticed her missing one day, and thought maybe she'd gotten out of the chicken yard. When she was still missing the second day, I got very sad. While I was feeding, I heard some light scratching coming from behind the shelf in the coop. At first I thought it might be a mouse -- and then I saw her WAY DOWN at the bottom of the wall, behind a 4x8' section of wall. Alan helped me rescue her -- thankfully, she's little and he managed to get her out using the "egg grabber" (one of those squeeze-handle gopher-jobbers used for picking up things).
Her and I had a little talk this morning about safety, and rescue missions. No more, Little Miss Penny. No more!
By the way, some places in the Dallas/Fort Worth area got upwards of 1-2" of snow yesterday ... we're expecting snow to hit our area tomorrow... Brr!
PS: Update on the new calf -- Alan liked the name suggestion of Darcy, so we've named the little gal Darcy. Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions! Oh, and Robb_eeie, those little dots on her belly are, dare I say, her BOOBIES! *grin*
Poor little Penny. I hope she is much better by now. I had a hen get her leg stuck in the back of our Adirondack style rocker chair. It was between two of the boards. I was walking over to the barn one day and there was her foot looking at me from the chair, with the rest of her on the other side. I thought she was dead. There was even blood from where she had tried to escape. Anyway, fortunately, she ended up being fine, but it was a scary experience for her. I'm still not sure how she did it.
Posted by: Claire | December 28, 2009 at 01:48 PM
hey how is penny doing we need a update i love youyr blog because you are a true artist and huge chicken lover i breed chickens we have over a 100 for the hatchery on our ranch so i love to hear the farm stories they make me feel all warm and happy he he he
Posted by: michellegall | December 10, 2009 at 06:17 PM
You're such a good chicken mama! I love the picture of her bundled up with her warm drink - looks like me today (except I don't fit in a shoebox!). Glad she's ok!!
Posted by: Jennifer K. | December 07, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Poor Miss Penny. Good thing you came to her rescue, but isn't it kind of odd that a chicken eats scrambled eggs? Isn't that like canabalism or something?
Posted by: Sherry (aka sherryann) | December 06, 2009 at 05:47 PM
Hi Anna,
I want to let you know how much I enjoy your blog. For being a city girl there is certainly something that draws me to your animal entries. I live in ottawa, il which is actually a pretty rural area. I teach 4th grade and all of my kids are city kids. They love your blog too. It all started with the double egg. I told them about it and then they said "let's look it up". So now you have 25 4th graders checking in on your farm periodically. we really enjoy it! Thanks! heidi
Posted by: heidi quick | December 06, 2009 at 01:42 PM
Ouch! Porry Miss Penny, I hope she's feeling much better now. It's great she has you as a "mom" to pamper her when it's needed.
Darcy is a wonderful name for your new little one.
Posted by: Ida | December 04, 2009 at 04:25 PM
Anna thanks for sharing your wonderful life!! I am glad that Penny was ok! Have a wonderful weekend!
Posted by: Jessie | December 04, 2009 at 01:43 PM
Oh my, Miss Penny got herself into a predicament, huh??!! Bless her heart! So glad you found her before her leg got even more injured...you are SUCH a good chicken Momma!!!
I hope she is feeling better really fast. I know she's loving the extra attention she's getting in the house! I'm sure she's the envy of all the other hens at the coop! I can just imagine what they are jealously saying to each other today!!! :D
Have a GREAT weekend! My son is driving to Dallas for the NE/TX playoff game Sat. night! So he'll be in your neck of the woods for a day! =)
Posted by: diane mcvey | December 04, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Darcy was my suggestion ... that's the first time I've 'named' a cow! How pleased am I!
Hope Miss Penny's feeling better ... sounds like she's milking all the attention!
:o)
Posted by: Lynne in NI | December 04, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Awww - you're a good egg Anna. In my next life I want to come back as one your feathered friends.
Posted by: Gabi With An Eye | December 04, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Oh Darcy was my fave submission for the calf! I love how it means Dark, and Lucy means light....great name for such a sweetie! Glad Penny is feeling better. Love the picture of her all bundled up...what a great Mother Hen you are, Anna, cluck cluck!
Posted by: Kelly Schirmer | December 04, 2009 at 04:37 AM
You think maybe she just wanted some "Mom" time in the house??? She adorable and the photos are so stinkin cute! I love your blog - yes for your designs and creations, but honestly - most of all for all your sweet animal photos and humor. Thanks so much for sharing all of this!
Posted by: Dru Cabral | December 04, 2009 at 04:18 AM
Awwwwwwwe! You are awesome!!!!
Posted by: sue | December 03, 2009 at 11:17 PM
Anna,
I'm just in love with your chickens! Do you think I could keep one indoors as a pet? (don't bother to answer, I know, I know.)
Miss Penny is just darling all snuggled down in her special spot next to you! Poor thing - I can't imagine hanging by my toenail all night. Well- I guess I weigh enough it would just rip my toe right off my foot! That would be fun, huh! Yikes.
Lucky Penny, I'd say!
Posted by: Sharli | December 03, 2009 at 07:10 PM
ohh..poor Penny, I bet she wasn't too happy hanging in her world upside down...hopefully it won't happen again.. but I'm sure she's loving the nice warm hotel for the night....
Posted by: Kellie | December 03, 2009 at 06:41 PM
That is so sweet that she coos to you. I hope her leg gets back to normal and that she gets to enjoy life back out with her chicken friends. She sounds like me - a little accident prone - and for her sake I hope that she breaks that pattern!! :)
Posted by: Marie | December 03, 2009 at 06:06 PM
Aaaw, poor Penny! I'm so glad you found her in time to rescue her and keep her warm. She might never want to leave your house, though...
Posted by: doris | December 03, 2009 at 06:03 PM
Oh sweet Penny. I am so glad you found her! (both times) :)
Posted by: Mo | December 03, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Sorry about Miss Penny, but I have to ask....if you feed a chicken scrambled eggs, is that considered cannibalism? :-)
Posted by: Sarah (SEB) | December 03, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Oh Dear Miss Penny. You must be more careful. Unless of course you are doing it for the attention and an afternoon of snacks and snuggles *wink*
Well you may have the snow! We are going to be colder but no real snow in the forecast. (for now)
Hugs...
Posted by: Carol Dee | December 03, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Hi Anna,
Good to hear from ya. Sorry Penny got into a predicament, hope she'll be ok. She seems awfully content there on your table, all cozy. Should you trim the nails, I was woondering that? Glad the calf is doing well,and hope everyone stays warm.
Posted by: Sally | December 03, 2009 at 12:20 PM