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MorrighanGW — The Epitome of a Survivor
Published: 2011-08-01 01:07:12 +0000 UTC; Views: 425; Favourites: 24; Downloads: 0
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This is "Beaky" - one of my many babies who will forever hold a very special place in my heart. I'm pretty proud mama when it comes to this survivor.Prognosis for this guy was pretty grim at a day old; we weren't sure if he would be able to eat on his own with his beak the way it was, but we were determined to give him a chance to decide his own fate. With a bit of medical intervention, a lot of patience, and a ton of determination on the chicken's part, he made it through all the hurdles placed before him and EXCELLED. He's well on his way to reaching adult size and weight, and is typically the first to the food dish whenever there are chopped veggies on the menu. And boy can he scarf those veggies down like no one's business.
The Attwater's prairie chicken is probably the most endangered bird in North America. There are less than 400 individuals alive, with only just over a 100 in the wild. Fortunately, several facilities in Texas participate in a captive breeding program and have been releasing individuals back into designated refuges. It's been a long, tough road to bring this species back from the brink, but every year brings a bit of hope with every chick successfully hatched and raised.
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
Glen Rose, Texas, USA
June 22, 2011
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Comments: 13
What an amazing story, I'm so glad he's survived. Thank you for taking care of him and sharing his story and photo with us!
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Whoa... that's a pretty unfortunate sort of mutation...
There was no chance of corrective surgery or anything?
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We noticed his beak misalignment pretty soon after hatch, and I don't think a fully corrective surgery would have been possible when he was so little and still growing. Instead, the vet surgically widened one side of his mouth so that it would be easier for him to eat, and we just crossed our fingers. Luckily for us, it worked! I don't think they'll be doing a corrective surgery on him in the future, but you never know! I'm hoping not.
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So amazing! one of the 25 chicks we got in march had a beak just like this; unfortunately it only managed to survive 4 months with its crooked beak(and had a much less flattering nickname), but like your little champ was the first to the food dish. We presume he/she died from malnutrition as it was half the size of the other chicks with the same birthdate, but was spunky to the end. Is this a genetic mutation or 'birth/hatching' injury?
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I think it can be either. We're still not sure what caused his condition.
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Pretty amazing. The ones who have trouble eating in the beginning always seem to enjoy the food most when they can finally get at it! Diego is still a pig (he's supplementing his diet with magpies, possums, and anything else that still wanders into his cage) and Scissor is delighted to be sharing his space with two juvie RTHAs--more food for him (but less for them). Did this bird have its beak surgically repaired somehow, and is it still slightly crooked?
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I know, right? It's taking that plunge and hoping that you made the right decision. In this case, we definitely did. Our awesome, awesome vet surgically widened his mouth on one side a bit so that it'd be easier for him to eat, but she didn't do any more than that. It was way too much of a risk when he was only a day old. But look at how big he is! I still can't believe it.
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Poor baby! Was this simple bad luck or a bad sign of bottlenecking in the population?
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Bad luck. But he made it and that's all that matters.
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He had a good mommy
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