Relaxed Farming - our farm in your classroom

We are very proud of our wobbly chick, although at almost four months she can no longer really be called a chick. She is now a 'pullet': a young chicken, but to us she will always be 'Wobbly' (unimaginative but descriptive). She was around four weeks old when she first became 'wobbly' (see 1st June) and after a spell in our 'hospital wing' where she made a small improvement, she then went back to her 'mum' (our light golden bantam) who by that time was in fact broody again. This was perfect as it meant Wobbly had permanent company as aside from a quick daily food and toilet trip, the bantam spent all her time on her nest. On the 15th June we gave the bantam four one-day old chicks to look after and raise and what was fabulous was how Wobbly took to the new chicks as well. Equally fabulous was how the bantam did not abandon her first 'daughter' in favour of her new family and even when they all started to go outside, they remained a firm group of six.
Throughout it all, Wobbly continued to get stronger and more mobile. She began to walk again, albeit with her wings often stretched out for balance and she showed that she was more than capable of wobbling/fluttering her way to the drinkers and feeders. Remarkably she kept a very clean bottom: often chickens that cannot walk properly have mucky behinds as they poo sitting down!!! (Lovely!!)
About two weeks ago, our bantam mum decided it was time to start laying again and so over a few days she began to withdraw from her family of five and go off on her own. The four younger chicks were not even four weeks old, so very young to be left. But, remarkably, Wobbly took over as full time mum and has remained so: she keeps them warm at night and spends her days outside with them on the grass.
You can see from the photos she is 'modelling' some rather lovely footwear. Part of the problem with her legs becoming weak was that her feet then became twisted as well. Chickens walk with their toes spread out flat as this helps spread the weight of their bodies. Walking with curled toes increased the unsteadiness for Wobbly as her weight was not then evenly spread. Every few days we 'tape' her feet flat which we hope will eventually mean they stay flat as the muscles in them get strong enough again to keep them in place. We give her a day or so off every now and again and then re-tape. We did this last year for a Red Leghorn we had and it worked a treat. Fingers crossed this works for Wobbly too.