The Parsons' Chicken Saga

Ever heard the term "Weeds and Roses"? Well I just heard this term the other day, but I totally got what it meant without any explanation. Some people are Weeds, they are the nice people that seem to just have a hard life, and the other people are Roses, or rather those people who always seem to get what they want, when they want it, and they let you know it. I feel that the same goes for animals. Chickens have a pecking order. And it seems that the chickens on top are just fine, they have a little too good for you attitude, get the best foods, and the pick of the water and laying boxes. Basically what they say goes and those underlings know NOT to mess with them. Bella and Isla are the Top Chicks with our girls.

Anyways into the Parsons Chicken Saga.

The above pictures are of our chicken "Silver" she is a Silver Laced Wyandotte. A very good chicken. Docile in nature and kind to others. In other words she is at the bottom of the pecking order with the girls. Also she is about 90% blind. About a year ago, we traded in our rooster "Rude-y" for Bella and Isla, soon after Silver had the chicken flu. (not sure if it is related but, hey the timing is on). Her eyes were crusted shut, and she had fluid running our of her nose and mouth. She was a sick girl. So we isolated her, put antibiotics in her water and in the water for the girls, just to be safe. We had to force eye-drop feed her a special fluid, and put salve (Neosporin) in her eyes to help with the congestion. I was unsure if she was even going to make it through the night. Make it she did, it took about 2 weeks until she was well enough to join the girls. She is such a trooper, and it always seems that the animals in need or sick are always so willing to be handled and helped. Why does it seem that those at the bottom of the totem pole get the S**ts?

However, Silver is not alone. She has a friend, a confidant, a protector, a "sister" - her name is Tiny. When the girls are out roaming the pasture you can usually find these two together, Tiny helping Silver figure out where she is, or helping her find the "Dust Hole" for a quick dust bath to cool off and keep the bugs out, or showing her a great spot for some sweet grass. These two are inseparable. They are not allowed in the laying boxes, (plus Silver is not able to fly up there) so they sleep in the corner and lay their eggs together. Tiny was very sad for the two weeks that Silver was isolated. I am sure that they had lots to catch up on when Silver joined back up with the girls. You could tell a certain personality change when the two got back together.

Alas, as a Saga has more than one story, Tiny is now the one in isolation. But that is for another day.