A Tablelands bird with the rare polymelia condition – giving it four legs – has a bright future

An animal carer has now taken Queensland’s four-legged chicken into her care, and surgery is now being considered to give it a normal life.

An animal carer has now taken the Tablelands’ four-legged chicken into her care, and surgery is being considered to give it a normal life.

The Cairns Post reported on Monday the four-legged, two-winged bird had hatched on a Tablelands property, and the owners were seeking a loving home to care for it.

Because it stood out from the crowd, other birds in the flock pecked it and the owner said it had developed an infection.

The four-legged chicken has not proven to be an April fool’s Day hoax. An animal carer has taken it under her wing and surgery might be a future option. Picture: Facebook

Wildlife carer and animal-lover Olive Needham has now taken the bird into her care and is assessing its future.

She said while one vet she spoke to suggested the bird be put in a jar of formaldehyde, she is keen to improve its wellbeing and give it a life worth living, and is seeking further opinions on its future.

That might involve surgery to remove the extra legs.

The condition impacting the chicken, known as polymelia, is not that uncommon and can even affect humans.

Originally published as A Tablelands bird with the rare polymelia condition – giving it four legs – has a bright future