Some birds don't have enough sense to come in out of the rain. When the rain becomes an ice storm, bad things happen to dumb birds. Earlier this month, I went to bed knowing nasty weather was headed our way. I'd made all reasonable preparations and moved the livestock and poultry to shelter. This rooster apparently didn't like the company, so he later returned to his favorite roost in front of the house. I found him at daybreak, looking like this. The weight of the ice on his head and neck feathers made it impossible for him to raise his head, but he was alive and trying. I wrapped him in a towel and moved him to the bathtub. A few careful whacks with a tablespoon broke up the worst of the ice coating his feathers so he could lift his head. The rest melted quickly in the warm room. I let him stay in for a couple hours until he was dry and happily crowing. Do you know how LOUD a rooster sounds in a small room?
Mr. Ice continues to roost nightly on the fence near my front door, through rain, snow, and bitter wind. I doubt he's learned his lesson.
6 comments:
Wow! I've never seen a bird like this. I'm amazed he survived.
poor baby : ) i have never seen anything like this...maybe lock him up at night ....how about coons /foxes etc out at night?
love your posts!!
Ron - I've had worse than roosters in the bathroom - you get used to that sort of thing after a while.
weekend farmer - I lock most of the birds up, but there are compatibility issues, so the bachelor roosters have to find their own safe spots. This rooster actually had the best one predator-wise since it's close to my lead dog's resting spot.
Oh my...I found the link to this post from 'Laughing Orca Ranch' and was immediately horrified to see the "dead" bird on the fence... :-) How relieved I was to read that he was ok, but what a strange story...I had heard chickens weren't very smart, but this is crazy! I think I prefer to think of this guy as just stubborn: he wasn't going to let the nasty weather get the better of him! :-)
I have to echo, Oh my! The poor silly boy! I'm glad he is ok.
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