TWIN LAKES, Ark.-What do a one-legged Rhode Island Red chicken and country music legend Reba McEntire have in common? They share a first name and a will to survive. In the country music star's case, her will to survive is expressed in a song titled "I'm a Survivor," that served as the theme song for her television show.
In Reba the chicken's case, the young hen survived an operation to amputate her leg.
The story began with Reba growing up as a pet chicken at a Twin Lakes home, according to The Baxter Bulletin. She, along with other chickens at the home were kept as family pets, according to DVM Sarah Shedenhelm at All Creatures Animal Hospital.
Then, one day, the family noticed Reba had a horrible leg injury. They rushed her to All Creatures for treatment. Medical staff there discussed a course of treatment for Reba. Her leg was injured so severely it could not be saved.
They researched the issue and learned pet chickens can survive a leg amputation and go on to have good quality of life. Had the chicken been a rooster, the prognosis would have been less favorable due to a rooster's larger size, Shedenhelm said.
"Reba was young and she was in good shape when she was brought in with her leg injury," said Shedenhelm. "The broken leg was severe, so the decision was made to amputate."
Then came a dilemma.
"I'm not sure if you know this, but chickens can be mean," Shedenhelm said. "Even though the chickens will be nice to humans, they can pick on other chickens."
The family who owned Reba was concerned their other chickens would be mean to Reba, a fear the staff at the vet's office shared.
"With much discussion about what would happen with her, they decided they would let her come live with one of us if we did the surgery and she came through it," said the vet.
Enter DVM Erin Cranfill. Cranfill, who is one of the few vets at the clinic who has amputated a bird leg in the past, performed the surgery on Reba. That surgery was resoundingly successful according to Shedenhelm.
"She did very well, she recovered from surgery perfectly," said Shedenhelm. "An hour after the surgery she was up and hopping around just fine. She ate and drank."
And hopping is what Reba, with one leg, does to get around. It's strange to see a chicken hop instead of their usual head-bobbing gait.
Initially, Shedenhelm served as a foster hen-mom for Reba. The chicken spent approximately two weeks with her. However, even though Shedenhelm's chickens are young, they soon came to exhibit poultry animosity towards Reba. Shedenhelm knew it was time to move Reba before she was injured.
Then came the move to Reba's forever, or feather-ever if you prefer, home. That home is with DVM Heather Kittrell, another vet at the clinic.
"Now, she lives down the road from me," Shedenhelm said. "Dr. Kittrell is a one-chicken home and her home came with a magnificent walk-in chicken barn. Reba has the whole barn to herself and she has a wonderful nesting box."
But won't Reba get lonely? Isn't that what all great country singers croon about, missing loved ones?
Never fear for Reba, hope springs eternal. Or, rather, her hope for companionship will be answered in the spring.
"When the weather turns, Dr. Kittrell will get some chicks and Reba will already be established as the ruler of the roost," said Shedenhelm. "The chicks will grow up knowing Reba is in charge."
As for her prognosis, Shedenhelm says the future looks bright for Reba. Her breed of chicken can live up to eight years and the vets believe Reba's amputation is not likely to impact her longevity.
And then there's this; It doesn't matter for Reba if Obamacare is repealed. She has 'Rebacare', thanks to Kittrell and the staff at All Creatures.
"Oh yeah, she'll never have to worry about healthcare," Shedenhelm said of Reba. "She lives with a doctor and we'll always take care of her."