Bloody Mary & Houdini

August 9, 2011

You’d think that rescued battery hens would be so glad to be free, they’d all be sweet. Unfortunately, the pecking order still exists, and one weak hen with a damaged leg was singled out for attack by the others. We removed her and treated the bloody area on her lower back. It was so bad that I didn’t post the close-up photo because it might distress people. Now named Mary (short for Bloody Mary), this hen is currently recovering well in our living room. We also removed 2 other shy hens who were getting picked on (Houdini and Shadow), and they now enjoy their own private coop and run. Houdini has escaped 4 times, in spite of constant fortifications on our part. Whoever thought hens were ‘birdbrains’ should think again. Houdini has outfoxed us every time!! We’ll make sure these 3 hens get a special adoptive family where they’ll be the only chickens, and can rule their own roost.