Operation Save the Chicken!

So, my husband will tell you that I am a complete sucker when it comes to creatures. I see abandoned or stray animals and my heart softens. My husband would prefer to simply call animal control and let them do their job. However, I know that their job is to capture animals in any way possible, give them a look over, and then put them in the shelter ... which usually gives the poor creature anywhere from three days to two weeks before execution.

Okay, so it is humanely done ... but still! They didn't ask for their life and they didn't ask to be put to sleep because of it. Enter Operation Save the Chicken.

So ... Monday ... driving to our errands with the kids, I see this thing that doesn't look right in the woods. I snapped a picture and drove a little closer ... sure enough, in our woods we have a wandering chicken!

This chicken appeared to have her wings and tail feathers clipped. I knew she wasn't wild and she didn't move at all when people approached her. She was also super stressed and it was beginning to get cold. This just would NOT do! I talked to a friend who I knew already had a few chickens herself and she was more than willing to take this poor girl.

So .... I told my hubby that if I could get a pet carrier, I was going to catch her and rehome her. His response?

"We don't have a pet carrier."

I love you ... really. LOL I have TONS of friends that I knew had a pet carrier. So I contacted one of them yesterday. AFTER making sure the poor girl was still pecking at the grass and watching cars.

*note - I did talk to neighbors and found out she had been here for at least 3 days and she didn't belong to anyone around here.*

I initiated #OperationSaveTheChicken after taking Monkey to the bus stop. I put out some corn and she went CRAZY.

My friend showed up with her pet taxi and we used love, coaxing, corralling, and a duster with an extender to get the girl out from under the car and into my friend's arms. Once safe inside the pet taxi, we got her into the warm house, gave her some more corn, and got her some water.

She then went to sleep. She was SO happy. Later in the evening, my friend came and got her. She sent me pictures this morning. I was informed she was talking to her new roommates, ate all night long, and was overall very happy.

New roommates

Very happy little girl

My daughter (Peanut) wanted to name her, but I kept telling her that she wasn't ours to name.

So, what about you guys? Do you have a soft spot for poor creatures that have been abandoned or are strays? What measures do you go to in order to get them a safe home where they are happy?