Little Mumble the chicken is vibrant, cuddly, and playful. She happens to also be blind.
She was born without any eyes, much to her mother, Rebekah Stewart’s surprise.
Even though folks all across the internet told Stewart that Mumble wouldn’t make it, advising her to swiftly put the precious creature out of her misery, Stewart’s gut told her a different story.
Stewart told LittleThings, "I had never seen an animal born or hatched with no eyes before. I wondered if she would live long at all.
"I loved her from the beginning, though, and wanted the best start for her."
She continued raising little Mumble with the rest of her precious brood — which includes dogs, cats, and rabbits.
Now, Mumble plays with all of her best friends every day, living a more fantastic life than Stewart ever anticipated she would.
Mumble's story is a beautiful reminder of what kind of magical circumstances can unfold when, instead of dismissing disabled creatures for their differences, we lead with a helping hand.
Scroll through below to learn more about this wonderful little chicken’s life, and the adorable cast of characters she gets to play with day after day.
[H/T: The Dodo]
When Rebekah Stewart’s grandfather gifted her a chicken egg to hatch, she placed it in her incubator, as she'd done for many chicken eggs before.
Unbeknownst to her, though, the chicken inside this egg was different from any other chicken she had previously encountered.
On May 4th, 2015, adorable Mumble the chicken hatched out of her shell, completely perfect sans two little details — she didn’t have either of her eyes.
Stewart immediately took to the internet, seeking guidance regarding how to care for this adorable, differently-abled chick.
Much to her dismay, most folks that reached out in response recommended culling the cutie.
No one believed she’d be able to live a fulfilling life without her eyes.
But Stewart couldn’t do it.
She couldn’t end this precious creature’s life without at least giving her a fair shot at happiness.
Stewart told The Dodo, “I stood up for her life even with many people telling me I was cruel and ridiculous for 'prolonging her suffering' and I was wasting my time.
"But as an animal lover I stood my ground."
And thank God she did!
Mumble the chicken is now a full year old, living with all her best friends, which include cats, dogs, rabbits, and humans.
Stewart told LittleThings, "I am unable to have my own biological children, and I have always known I would fill that void with animals.
"I was very maternal towards Mumble and her siblings, even long before they hatched!"
Mumble is now an ambassador for differently-abled animals all over the world.
Stewart told The Dodo, “She's now a year old, and as beautiful as ever.
"More and more people are messaging her page asking for advice with disabled chicks now also, rather than just culling them.
“She brings so much joy to many people, and I'm so proud of her."
Having Mumble join her family has broadened Stewart’s understanding of how differently-abled creatures like her chicken are generally treated elsewhere in the world.
She explained to The Dodo, “Now, knowing how many chickens are actually culled for minor things such as being blind, I will be rescuing when I have the opportunity.”
In the meantime, little Mumble is having a ball snuggling with Stewart's 7-year-old pup, Maddie.
Stewart told LittleThings, "Maddie, my Staffordshire Bull Terrier, has always had a very close bond with me, and I was a little worried she would get jealous of the extra attention Mumble sometimes needs.
"But, she's accepted her little sister and the three of us snuggle to sleep every night."
That is, in the rare moments that she’s left her best friend and fellow chicken, Nyx’s side.
These two can’t get enough of each other!
Stewart took a chance on this little chicken, and the beautiful soul she let stay in this world has undoubtedly changed her life for the better.
What do you think of little Mumble’s story? Have you ever considered adopting a differently-abled animal? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.
Please SHARE this beautiful story with animal rescuers in your community!
