A few weeks ago, I was approached by a woman who said she was from out of town and staying with some friends who have a bunch of backyard chickens with chicks who just hatched. One of the chicks could not walk and her toes were crooked. The woman said she had been helping this chick eat but she had to return home and was worried that the chick would not survive. She asked us to take her. I immediately called our avian veterinarian to ask if this was common and if there was a cure. Dr. Molnar said that sometimes chicks are born this way and with help and in time the toes could be straightened.

After a week of therapy at the vet’s office, the chick came home to The Gentle Barn this week with straight toes and a very joyous spirit. She is so friendly and spends hours playing nearby or sleeping in our laps. She is too small to be in the barnyard, as the other chickens won’t be nice to her. So, for now she will be raised by us, sit in our laps while we work, sleep in the house with us, and our volunteers and staff will take turns nurturing and loving her.

I spend hours watching her explore. She is so full of life and curiosity and makes peaceful peeping sounds wherever she goes. She has just arrived and we are already hopelessly in love. I cannot figure out how she is seen all over the world as food. All I see is an innocent baby full of hope and promise of a wonderful life. She will be at The Gentle Barn this Sunday if you would like to meet her and fall in love with her too.

Written by Ellie Laks
Founder, The Gentle Barn