'Is that a chicken with dreadlocks?' viral video ends with healing for Polish rooster

If you’re one of the nearly three million people to view a recent TikTok video that took place at the QuikTrip on Forest Lane, you, like me, are likely now caught up in the story of a chicken affectionately known as Ringo.

It started on September 12 when Dion Spelling, known as @dltrey on TikTok, posted a video of a floppy haired chicken running around in a field near the gas station.

Liesl McQuillan, a former Richland College professor and former Junius Heights neighbor, reached out to Spelling for more information and, following the directions of other posters on a Facebook group, Backyard Chickens of DFW, she found him.

McQuillan has been seen in Advocate issues before, with ducks or a turkey-goat duo. We caught up with her and the TikTok-famous Polish rooster, now lovingly known as Ringo, to see how they are doing.

Why Ringo?

“I kind of just wait and let the names come to me, which is how he got his name,” McQuillan said. “I remember thinking Ringo Star had really floppy hair when I was a kid, so that’s likely where that came from.”

Ringo had sores on his feet, potentially sharpened spurs and “lots of wounds,” she said. Birds that have been involved in cockfighting often have a sharpened spur, is a small, horn-like protrusion that grows from a chicken’s leg just above the foot.

Now, Ringo is on antibiotics. McQuillan said his wings appear to have attempted to be clipped and he had several infections.

“He is healing,” McQuillan said. “He had his big toe on his right foot amputated because the bone was sticking out. He was also treated for worms and is now a much more active chicken.”

After McQuillan found out that Ringo might need surgery, she included information on how to donate to his care, noting that veterinarians agreed that he might have been used for cockfighting.

Cockfighting is illegal in all 50 states, with penalties in Texas including causing the cocks to fight, participating in the earnings of the fight, allowing someone to use property for a fight, training a cock to fight or spectating a cockfight — in other words, anyone involved is prosecutable. A conviction is punishable as a state jail felony with a maximum fine of $10,000 and a jail time of up to two years.

The Humane Society requests that the public notify authorities of any signs of cockfighting, like witnessing a property with an inordinate number of roosters at one location; a higher ratio of roosters to hens, roosters with their waddles, combs or natural spurs altered or removed; cockfighting equipment such as gaffs or muffs or signage suddenly advertising a “poultry show.”

According to Dallas Animal Services, if you see evidence of cockfighting you should call 311 immediately, or 911 if the fight is in progress.

“Ringo’s life isn’t great yet, but it will be,” McQuillan said in later posts.

Our latest update on Ringo was one week ago, with a better gait, more energy and a big ole cast. You can follow Ringo’s continued healing on her TikTok @twistedtimberfarm.