Why did a chicken jump out of an 18-wheeler in the middle of Highway 82?
It’s a question to which Best Friends Animal Hospital owner and veterinarian Dr. Lindsey Pierce may never know the answer. But on Feb. 8, when a Good Samaritan called her clinic with the story, Pierce knew she and her staff needed to help.
“A couple of weeks ago, we got a call from just a frantic Good Samaritan,” Pierce said. “And she said that she did not know if she had a hen or a rooster, but there was a chicken on the side of (Highway) 82 and it looked like it was hurt, and could she bring it in.”
When the woman arrived, she told Pierce the chicken had apparently escaped from a truck filled with other chickens. The bird hit the windshield of the car in front of the Good Samaritan and bounced onto the side of the road.
While the helpful woman couldn’t stop right away, she eventually doubled back and found the chicken, which she picked up and brought to the clinic. In the few minutes the chicken was in her care, the woman dubbed it “82.”
Pierce said that the clinic does not typically see poultry or exotic animals. But when she saw 82, she called a friend who specializes in poultry medicine to see what could be done.
“We determined that if I could help the chicken, even if it’s only giving it a few more weeks of good life, then that is what I was going to do,” Pierce said.
Pierce said the hen had a laceration under her left side and blood underneath her wings. The veterinarian and her team cleaned the chicken’s wounds, stitched her up, then gave her antibiotics and pain medication.
With 82’s condition, Pierce said, she wasn’t always sure the chicken would pull through.
“I did prepare everyone, including my staff — since we all have very soft hearts around here — that the chicken had between 24 to 48 hours to show me that it was going to improve, ” Pierce said. “It was going to show me that it was going to eat. And it was going to show me that it was going to be alive. Because we don’t want to cause more harm.”
But within two days, 82 started showing more signs of life, including eating on her own again.
Unfortunately, Pierce said, 82 is a broiler hen that she believes is between 9 and 10 weeks old. And broiler hens are not bred to survive for very long. According to Farm Forward, broiler hens are typically slaughtered for their meat at an average of 7 weeks old.
Pierce said when the breed grows larger, they often develop other health issues, including heart problems. Because of its breed, Pierce said, it is likely the chicken will need to be humanely euthanized in the next few weeks to prevent future suffering.
“But one motto that I have here in this clinic, and this is how I practice my job and practice medicine, is that if we can give our patients more good days than bad days, then I am onboard with whatever we do,” Pierce said.
To give 82 those good days, Pierce brought the hen back to her own home, where she owns 20 acres and an established flock of chickens — a veritable poultry heaven.
Pierce said the hen is not the first animal she has brought home from the clinic.
“My kids were ecstatic,” Pierce said. “This is what my kids live for, to see what mom is going to bring home.”
Still, Pierce said she has never seen a chicken come into the hospital before.
Best Friends Animal Hospital Office Manager Danielle Coe said in her 13 years working in the profession, she has never seen anything like the escapee chicken before, either in the fowl or the friends it made along the way.
“There were so many people that were willing to help this chicken that was on its way to… a chicken farm where they do the unmentionable,” Coe said. “But so many people were willing to help and called about it. And even the lady who brought the chicken in… was already attached.”
She also shared Pierce’s optimism for the chicken’s final days.
“I know 82 is living its best life,” Coe said.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
