IN JUNE 2019, I GOT A
message from a Chicago
woman who took in abandoned
roosters. Julia Magnus
from Chicago Roo Crew
contacted me about one of her
latest foster birds, Vincent. She
said she found Vincent walking
around the Northeastern
Illinois University campus. At
the time, the poor guy was in
horrible condition. He was dehydrated,
distressed, missing
feathers, riddled with parasites
and barely able to stand.
A volunteer named Lucy
took Vincent to Niles Animal
Hospital and Bird Medical Center
for emergency care, but the
veterinarian there, Dr. Zachary
Kline, said his prognosis was
poor. Despite a gloomy outlook,
Dr. Kline and the staff at Niles
did everything they could. They
gave Vincent IV fluids, oxygen
therapy and various medications.
By the end of the day, he
was on his feet and eating.
Day by day, Vincent continued
to improve. Julia took him
in as a foster until she could
find permanent placement for
him. When he arrived at Georgia’s
Place Bird Sanctuary, my
husband, Joe, and I fell head
over heels for him.
Since then, Vincent has become
the man of the barn who
will do anything for the ladies.
Each time I bring treats, he calls
the ladies over — a behavior
called tidbitting — and makes
sure they get some before he
takes any. Vincent’s also an
amazing guardian. We recently
had a visiting hawk, and even
though the run and barn are
predator-proof, he screamed to
make sure the ladies ran into
the barn as he stood at the door
to protect them.
My favorite thing about Vincent
is his love for Bernie, one
of our hens rescued from a religious
ceremony called Kaporos.
Bernie is one of the most unique
individuals we’ve ever had. With
poor eyesight and one wing, she
Ladies
Man
Charming chicken finds health,
happiness at Georgia’s Place
BY REHANA MOHAMMED-SMITH
Farm
ANIMAL SPOTLIGHT
has a fiery spunk that can make
anyone fall in love with her. She
follows Vincent everywhere, and
he adores her. They lay down
together, and sunbathe and
take dust baths together. She
will often put her head under
his chest or his butt and try to
snuggle him. The best couple
of the year award definitely
goes to these two.
We had a terrible scare in
summer 2020. I saw Vincent
lay down and close his eyes.
I thought it was odd since I
had just finished the evening
feeding. I sat next to him
and said, “Hey, baby boy, are
you sleepy?” There was no
response; he went completely
limp. I screamed as loud as I
could to Joe, who was working
in the garden. When Joe ran
over to see what happened, I
told him I had to go. I grabbed
Vincent, got in my car and
started driving to Chicago.
I called Niles, but it was 6:30
p.m., so they had closed for the
day. I then called Midwest Bird
and Exotic Animal Hospital
and explained my emergency.
They told me they would take
Vincent and stabilize him right
away but that it would be at
least six hours until they could
examine him. Around 1 a.m.,
the staff ran tests and established
a treatment plan. Vincent
stayed overnight because
of a high white blood cell count
and fever, which indicated an
infection. He came home the
next day with antibiotics.
With guidance from our
regular veterinarian, Dr. Ron
Durante of Algonquin Animal
Clinic, Vincent is on heart
medication. He will have to be
on heart medication for the
rest of his life, but as long as
our guy is happy and healthy,
my heart will be full.
Georgia’s Place Bird Sanctuary
is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit farm
sanctuary in Harvard founded
by Rehana Mohammed-Smith
and Joe Smith. The couple
rescues unwanted and abused
birds while promoting compassionate
living and treatment
of farm birds through
education and advocacy. They
have 38 residents and are
building a wildlife rehabilitation
center and goat barn. Rehana
named Georgia’s Place
after her first hen, George, who
was her queen of hearts.
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