A Final Note - Or: Preface, actually....

Had I known that this Blog site did not allow one to re-arrange Blogs so that they are ordered nicely in the writer's chosen chronology, I would have written the story backwards. But, alas... If you should stumble across this blog, you will have to scroll down to Chapter 1, and then scroll up to find where Chapter 2 begins, and so on, in order to follow this story chronologically (because for some reason, the menu of chapters does not always appear on the right - especially on the FIRST chapter. Which leaves one to assume there is no continuation to the story.)

SO... my deepest apologies for the inconvenience. But, it took me too darned long to write and publish this and i just don't have the time to start over or find a different site or way of displaying Chickie's story in a way that makes it easier for the reader to follow.

I DID try to keep the story all in ONE blog - but it appeared that this site only allowed up to so much data within ONE blog, which is why I ended up dividing it into chapters (5 separate blogs). I later came to find out that this probably wasn't true and it was only freezing up on me due to internet traffic jams or something.

TOO LATE.

One last note I failed to mention in my story is how Chickie caused a group forum of approx. 800 members (the forum referred to in Chapter 1 of this story) to crumble and divide when I was asked by a moderator to please limit/stop posting about Chickie - Because the Chickie topic was overwhelming the actual topic of the forum as more people began to fall in love with Chickie & wish to hear more about her. I quietly and humbly decided to respect the moderator's wishes & unsub from the group (because I felt I could not control keeping my mouth shut about Chickie) - and my GOODNESS!!! What happened next!!!!! Nearly all the active members of the group went into an uproar, they unsubbed as well, called out to form a NEW group, ... and a new group was formed where we can still discuss the topic of the old group, but also have the freedom to continue hearing about Chickie. This new group's mascot is (guess who?) - Chickie, herself, ofcourse! The forum group topic is: "Invisible Pain" (those who suffer from chronic pain diseases and/or syndromes)

Anyway... I hope you all enjoy and appreciate the story, and i'll try to keep you all updated once in a while on how my little Chickie is doing out there in the Jungle.

For now: Chickie and I say ALOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHA! to you all & blessings!

-Jaana & Chickie-Meister-Hahn

And.......in the spirit of Thanks Giving, here's a fun clip that was sent to me a few days ago - worth watching after reading the Chickie Story: http://www.msn.americangreetings.com/view.pd?i=382219626&m=1652&rr=y&sou

chickens

CHICKIE STORY - Part 5

THE CHICKIE STORY - PART 5

MEDICAL EMERGENCY!!!

YES, that is a ziplock baggie on her head.

There was only one veterinarian on the island willing to help a "common chicken" - and he specializes in HORSES. At home, he has a make-shift "clinic" with home-made anesthesia machines and... Oh good GOD... The place looked so 3rd world...

I called this veterinarian on the morning of August 4, 2005 - I told him that I believe Chickie is EGG-BOUND. I could tell by her stance... and have read up on this serious problem (and that it can/will lead to death!!) ...AND i could FEEL the egg.

So, the doc put Chickie under and felt around... he said he didn't feel any EGG. Thus, he felt she may have some other issue going on & said he'll draw some blood and send it in to the lab.

Shortly after Chickie and I returned home. Chickie was still as miserable as could be after she came out of the anesthesia...

I came out of the shower ....and look what i found:

It was mashed up and gooey, but sure enough: it was an EGG. I called the Doc immediately and said; "HOLD THE PRESS!!! Don't send the blood out to the lab! Chickie laid an egg - but soft shelled.... She WAS egg-bound." (I WANTED to say those words us women LOVE to say; "I TOLD YOU SO". It took all of my self-discipline to resist uttering those beautiful words)

So... Mystery solved, Chickie was back to her old self - BUT, she needed more CALCIUM in her diet. I was instructed to get some more calcium in her diet to avoid the soft-shell egg problem (which apparently is also yet another life-threatening problem with chickens)

Chickie receives a Get Well card from one of her fans, Penny G.

August 12, 2005

GRADUATION DAY

Chickie became more and more independant as time went on... USUALLY, when she joined me at the Jungle properties as I worked out there; she would have nothing to do with the other chickens... stick VERY closely to my side... and never venture too far.

But... as time went on.... she ventured further and further... and became more and more reluctant to get back in the car and go home with me (or come back home when i'd let her outside to play).

One day I almost lost her. It was in the WalMart parking lot of all places.

I was there to meet some clients who had to fill out their paperwork for a Bail Bond. During this time, I let Chickie down into the grass at the edge of the parkinglot to play. WELL, that little bugger went and climbed under this fence (which completely enclosed a large grassy area & ditch - where many other chickens were roaming around). She found all sorts of fun and exciting things to poke around with in there ...and when it came time that I had completed my paperwork transaction and it was time for me to go release the inmate from the jail: CHICKIE WOULD NOT COME. Nor could I go GET her because you can only get IN to this fenced in area if you are under 1-foot high. I am 5'9".

I had no choice. The people weren't about to WAIT for me to get Chickie to come. They wanted their son out of jail - NOW. So, I had to leave Walmart and go release the inmate.

Once I finished up, I quickly returned to WalMart and tried to get Chickie back. FORTUNATELY she was next to the fence - allllll the way across the other side of the field. I went over there and called desperately for her to come out. She would NOT come out.

It seemed hopeless, but DAMMIT: MY CHICKIE WAS NOT GOING TO BE A WALMART CHICKEN. HELL NO!! So, it was obvious she wanted her freedom and I was prepared to give it to her - But NOT at WalMart.

So i got down on the ground.... in the MUD... got my arms through under that fence and DRAGGED Chickie out of there.

Us 2 muddy chicks went quickly to my car, went home, and made preparations for her graduation.

The owners of The Jungle Properties (Dave & Nancy) were kind enough to help me with this huge transition. They allowed me to place her bed-basket and toys and food bowls in their carport ...and then allowed me all the time I needed to help her understand that this is her new home now. This is where she was born, this is where her family is, and many other chickens....

She was FREE now.

Dave and Nancy allowed her to get to know them... and showed her around the place... (she rarely ever went to their house - which is at the end of the property's driveway - but only a short walk and visual distance from the cottages where I work)

She explored around the carport for a while as we all watched her... Then i told Dave and Nancy that i was going to get in my car and pull it up to the cottage i was to clean that day and just see what happens.

What happened? SHE RAN AFTER ME THE MOMENT SHE SAW ME PULLING AWAY.

"Oh NO.........."; I thought to myself. This is NOT going to be easy.......

I started working and Chickie stayed close... but then she suddenly disappeared!!! I continued to work... and then about an hour later, Nancy walks over to inform me that Chickie had returned to the house and had been hanging out with THEM over there!!

OK! Terrific!!! So, I said I was not going to come say goodbye after I was through with the cottage. I was just going to get in my car and drive away and hope for the best - No looking back.

Dave and Nancy were kind enough to not only look after her, but also call me with reports on how she was doing.... How she fared through her first night there: They said there was no indication that she slept in her bed-basket... they had no idea where she spent the night... but when they came out of the house first thing in the morning, Chickie came running to greet them from somewhere.

Chickie was adjusting most perfectly.

AND, it did not take long before Chickie found herself a boyfriend!!

Ofcourse, I had to draft a little booklet to leave in the rental cottages so that the guests would know who Chickie is, how to handle her, what to feed her, what NOT to feed her, and to understand that she is no "common chicken" - and to expect her to come around for attention and food, etc. Which she most certainly did - and to the delight of the tourists!!!

The Guest Book pages began to fill with stories of Chickie and how she was a highlight of their stay in the cottages...

....And Chickie would never forget her "Mother Hen". I still come out to the Jungle Properties atleast 1x/week for my usual cleanings, and Chickie would come to greet me and tell me all about her new life and then demand food, ofcourse.

Chickie Story - Part 4

The Chickie Story - Part 4

CHICKIE: NO LONGER NAKED

No fine chicken should go without a nice wardrobe.

Truth of the matter was: I have a chicken... the chicken does not live in a cage... the chicken roams freely around my home... the chicken sleeps in my bed... the chicken POOPS.

I've read stories that chickens can be potty-trained. Tried, it. Didn't work. I was in need of emergency solutions.

Folks; you wouldn't believe it, but there are actually people out there who sell CHICKEN DIAPERS. You don't believe me? Check it out: chickendiapers.com

But, because Chickie was very much more deserving of something a little more classy... we went for the "Flight Suits" (aka: bird diapers). They come in various patterns and colours... and I found this wonderful gal named Wanda who was selling these "Flight Suits" on Ebay. I purchased from her (and exchanged many emails thereafter - what a great gal!!!)

Here Chickie will model for you a little more, and after this: The Flight Suit ended up in a storage box. She hated it. She refused to wear it. She preferred to return back to her au'naturalle state of being.... and i went back to full-time POOP PATROL.

Ya gotta admit...

Pretty darned cute, eh?

Chickie .....my finicky little bugger... became more and more demanding of what meals she would find appropriate and satisfying to her taste.

I sure wish I could include this little video clip I shot of her when she stole my steak off my dinner plate -- i video'd as she darted all over the house with that piece of steak dangling out of her mouth. There was NO getting my steak back... and I learned from there on that 2 dinner plates wasn't going to work because what was on HER dinner plate (even though it was the same damned thing that was on MY dinner plate) wasn't good enough & she would have to have what was on MY plate. Thus: I surrendered to sharing my dinners with her from 1 plate.

My son, Rain, demonstrates the dangers of eating in the company of Chickie-Meister:

Chickie & I were invited to a party

This afternoon, Chickie and I were invited to my friend's beach house for a big BBQ bash.(Well.... they didn't exactly specifically invite CHICKIE... but, we must ASSUME he is invited - being that EVERYONE in town knows that whereever Jaana goes: Chickie goes)

Chickie assessed their grass - He have it 4-stars.

Rick & Susan have GREAT grass.

I needed a babysitter....

The FOOD and BEVERAGES were INSIDE the house. And for some UNKNOWN REASON: Chickie was not allowed in the house (although DOGS and HUMANS were fully welcome to gallavant throughout the house - all of which makes NO sense to me.... but never mind) - I needed someone to watch over Chickie so i could run in and get myself a plate of food & drink.

My friend Corky reluctantly agreed to babysit Chickie for this purpose.

Why does he appear so SIDEWAYS about this simple request?

JULY 21, 2005

CHICKIE LAYS HER FIRST EGG!

The Mystery of "IS CHICKIE A HEN or a ROOSTER?" was solved! She started acting all funny and in distress... next thing i know: she disappeared under my nightstand. My Motherly-Hen instincts KNEW this chicken was getting ready to lay an egg!

I stood by anxiously like a father-to-be in the waiting room while she squatted quietly under my nightstand for what seemed like an eternity -- and then suddenly; out she came - with head held high - and proudly stepped aside to let me get a look at her first egg. It was small and rather pathetic looking... but, still: it was very much an egg.

I though of getting it bronzed or something... but it still remains in my fridge (stinking up the place by now) while I have yet to figure out what to do with it.

Additional note: The age-old question of "What came first, the chicken or the egg?" has been answered as well. The chicken came first.