Free to range: Gammy the condemned four-legged chicken is rescued from a poultry farm by four-year-old girl... who now keeps him as her pet

  • Family in Logan, southeast Queensland, found Gammy from a poultry farm
  • Bird has four legs, two pelvises and a partially functioning second anus
  • The bought Gammy because four-year-old Emily Laing wanted to rescue it
  • She has since become obsessed with the 10-week-old 'double yolker' bird 
  • Gammy has respiratory disorder and is not expected to live much longer 

By Nelson Groom for Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

They say don’t count your chickens, but you would be forgiven for needing to count the legs on this chook.

A family in Logan, southeast Queensland, has taken a four-legged chicken named Gammy under their wing after learning the ill-fated animal was due to be put down at a poultry farm.

The chicken has since become a family favourite, with four-year-old Emily Laing developing a special bond with the 10-week-old bird.

Four-year-old Emily Laing has developed a special bond with four-legged chicken Gammy

Her mother Sarah said the family resolved to take pity upon the bird when they spotted it at a poultry farm.

‘We were buying some hatchlings to keep at home and noticed one which looked like it had a broken leg. When we picked it up we saw it had four legs.’

When the family learned the animal was set to be disposed off because it was unable to lay eggs, Emily said she wanted to keep it for a pet.

‘She overheard her dad refer to it as ‘the one with the gammy leg.’ Being the compassionate girl that she is, Emily told us 'I want to rescue Gammy'.’

The family bought the 10-week old chicken from a poultry farm, where it was going to be put down

The family bought the 10-week old chicken from a poultry farm, where it was going to be put down

The bird is believed to be a ‘double yolker’ who absorbed the extra body parts from its would-be twin

The bird has a complete second pelvis as well as the two extra legs and a partially functioning second anus.

‘We bought a batch of chicken’s from the farm but Gammy is definitely the family favourite. She has a very sweet nature, and Emily is obsessed. They got along like a hand in a glove.’

Sarah said she took the animal to a bird specialist, who said she was probably a ‘double yolker’ who absorbed the extra body parts from its would-be twin.

The bird has a complete second pelvis as well as the two extra legs and a partially functioning second anus

The bird has a complete second pelvis as well as the two extra legs and a partially functioning second anus

The chicken has severe health problems and the family say they are 'prepared for nature to take its course'

The chicken has severe health problems and the family say they are 'prepared for nature to take its course'

Sadly, Gammy suffers from respiratory disorder, with the pelvis is constricting her lungs. She’s also half the size of the other chickens they bought from the flock.

‘Gammy is definitely part of the family, but we’re prepared for nature to take its course. The specialist said most chickens with a deformity don’t make it past 6-8 weeks, and Gammy is going on 11 weeks. 

'I guess a little love and care goes a long way.’ 


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