The Figurehead

When I think of our chickens, the first one I think of is Napoleon Dynamite. He was in the first group of chickens we adopted close to 3 years ago. A little toughie, he picks fights with everyone he meets, well, other roosters. He has a growing harem with a devoted little hen, Josephine, that rarely leaves his side.

Tonight when I went in to collect eggs and lock up the chickens, I found Napoleon in one of the nesting boxes, his comb flopped over and a blueish pink, not the normal healthy red. His eyes were not the normal orange, but red and the skin around his eyes also red.

I have moved him to the infirmary, given him a little dropper-full of water, and some of Tyner's soft baby bird food. Before putting him in his protective cage for the night, I held him and told him that I would really like him to stay. I also told him I understood if it was his time to go.

Time will tell.