Two little Buff Bantam cockerels, now named Ronnie and Rupert, were discovered in two cardboard boxes left on our doorstep one morning. A very loud crowing revealed their presence—it wasn’t an early delivery from Amazon.
Ronnie was a noisy, lusty little fellow who was promptly taken to the large poultry house, where he joined a mixed flock of hens and cockerels of various breeds and sizes, most of them ex-battery hens. The hens, busy scratching around, having dust baths, or chasing butterflies, paid him no attention.
Rupert, on the other hand, was silent and appeared almost entirely blind. He sat with his head down, looking utterly miserable. He also suffered from an impacted crop; food had lodged in his crop, not digested, and had become very rancid.
Despite our efforts—administering vegetable oil and live yoghurt, along with massage—he showed no improvement and only seemed more dejected.
The vet operated on him the following day, emptied the crop, and stitched him up. Rupert was placed in a quiet spot while we all watched and waited. He has since found his voice, strutting around with a healthy appetite.
Although Rupert will need extra care for the rest of his life, we’re fortunate he ended up here where we can provide it for him.
