Crawford town clerk Jackie Savage had quite a story to tell before a work session in March. She and her husband Rick Rhoades had set up an incubator in their dining room.

It was full of 15 turkey eggs. First one, then a second chick emerged breaking through their eggs and seeing the outside world for the first time. The two were moved to a brooder box warmed by a light.

The chicks were to hatch on March 19, but three hatched on March 18. While the first two were fine, the third chick had difficulty. Its toes were bent under and not flat. The chick's legs could not support its body. They spread out helplessly to the left and the right. As the chick struggled, it hit the remaining dozen eggs in the incubator. Those eggs would never hatch.

The third chick could have been viewed as worthless and tossed aside. But fate was generous to the little guy because Jackie and Rick were determined to help him. They named him Seymore Hobbles. Jackie researched online, and found out how to make Seymore's toes become flat. Medical gauze tape was put on the top and bottom of his feet making Seymore flippers. To stop his legs from giving out, they made two hobbles. The first was a bandaid placed on his legs. The second was a pipe cleaner for his upper legs to provide some additional support for his hips.

Rick worked with Seymore his first few days of life to stand on his feet and legs. He taught Seymore to bounce up and down strengthening his limbs. Seymore so enjoyed the exercise, that when he was put in his own brooder box, he would continue to bounce up and down. Rick and Jackie put a rolled up hand towel in his box so Seymore could lean against it to help balance him.

From Jackie's research, the couple knew they had to help Seymore immediately. The problem must be solved within four days of hatching or the chick would not walk or survive. Seymore could not reach food or water, so Rick and Jackie fed him with an eye dropper. Rick is sure that if people have a lot of chicks, they don't even mess with any that have problems.

Seymore's toes were straightened and flat within 24 hours. On Seymore's third day, Rick removed the lower hobble.

Then on March 22 Rick removed the top hobble. Rick gently put Seymore on the dining room table.Seymore could stand on his own, and then he walked, stretching one foot out and then the other.

What he wanted to do from his first day, Seymore accomplished on his fourth day.

Now a month old, Seymore continues to grow. Jackie said Seymore is destined to be their "house turkey." Seymore's only time on their dining table will be when he first learned to walk.

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