DUSTY THE SILKIE !ATTENTION!

[Laura.silkie]

Soooooo this maybe quite a long post , depending on how cleaver I am at cutting a VERY long story short! HERE GOES... We have a beautiful Silkie chicken. Called dusty , this time 3 weeks ago she was out in the garden and she got attacked by a neighbour's feral cat . We grabbed her and went straight to the vets, after oxygen , anti biotics, x-arys, several other injections . And 5hours in the vets we got to take her home. Armed with pain killers and antibiotics! I will try not make this too long but yes , we got home , first week was , loveing , cuddling , feeding, helping her with everything , she could not move her head! Was very scared ! She was shaking , could not hold her head up! She look twisted , could not walk ! Went sideways when she tried too. AFTER LOTS OF LOVE... 3weeks later... She's eating on her own , drinking on her own , she walks straight , and is clucking again , she can flap her wings, and can tuck her beak in her wing when sleeping , she's really bounced back.... Although after week 2 she got ear infection from the cat bite which sent her walking backwards and running in circles , she's back to her self kinda. BUT... Since this cat attack happend , (dusty is actually kitchen bound untill better) when ever she sees my bare feet she looks at the like in a trance and starts to go to sleep ? I move my foot and she wakes up ! I put my foot back and she lowers her beak and falls stright back asleep on my foot. It's totally bonkers . IV tried to Google , but not found any other chicken that does this !. I'll upload a few pics from her being ill too now if I can. Hope you peeps on here can help me lol. Xx

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Hi, I don't know how to help but is your chicken ok?

 

[Laura.silkie]

Hi, I don't know how to help but is your chicken ok?

It was quite a long story and it has been an eventful 3weeks. I'd say she's not 100percent but she's getting there. I could of typed up an essay but I tried to just put the basic bits. The main thing is since her attack she's took a shine to my feet , it's crazy and funny and cute all at the same time . Soon as she sees my bare feet , she goes to sleep it's wierd. X

 

[Dawnclucks22]

If she's been walking backwards it sounds like it could be either a neurological injury or extreme discomfort... I hope you find the right people.

 

[Nutmeg15]

I'm glad to hear she is getting better quickly! Animal attacks are the absolute worst. My hens have also exhibited some uncharacteristic behaviors after we had an attack this summer. I'm not sure about the foot thing, but have you talked to your neighbor about that cat? If it is feral and attacking your birds, it could also be a danger to other pets in the neighborhood and possibly young children if you live in a community.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Time to tag the medics: @azygous @Pyxis @Eggcessive @lazy gardener @ronott1 @WVduckchick @casportpony

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us Although I wish the circumstances were better Here's hoping for a full recovery, with or without the foot fetish.

 

[WVduckchick]

Do your feet stink? Sorry, couldn't resist.

I'm not sure what that could mean. Maybe some weird association in her head. I probably wouldn't worry too much about it as she continues to recuperate. Hopefully it's nothing.

Great job getting her to the vet and i hope she is 100% real soon.

and welcome to the BYC family!

 

[azygous]

Something about your bare feet may be triggering a sort of PTSD in this little Silkie. I've seen my chickens go completely limp when they sense an imminent threat from a predator swooping down on them, being right next to them when it happened.

This is a reflex action to anything very near and just behind them. If you are coming up behind your Silkie when she goes into her "swoon", this could be the reason.

As cute as it may appear, I would not leave her down on the floor when you're walking around. I wouldn't risk having her body react with shock to anything for a time. She needs to get over her traumatic experience. She needs to feel secure and protected in order to heal completely.

 

[Nutmeg15]

Something about your bare feet may be triggering a sort of PTSD in this little Silkie. I've seen my chickens go completely limp when they sense an imminent threat from a predator swooping down on them, being right next to them when it happened.

This is a reflex action to anything very near and just behind them. If you are coming up behind your Silkie when she goes into her "swoon", this could be the reason.

As cute as it may appear, I would not leave her down on the floor when you're walking around. I wouldn't risk having her body react with shock to anything for a time. She needs to get over her traumatic experience. She needs to feel secure and protected in order to heal completely.

Reading this reply has reminded me of my own hens! My flock suffered several major raccoon attacks at night over the summer and two of my remaining hens are extremely afraid of being touched/approached at nighttime now. Even if a light is on so that they can see me or the sun has not quite set, they cower and cry if I try to come near them when I lock them up at night.

The problem here could very well be a PTSD reaction. Sudden movements could also trigger your hen to go into this "trance." I wish you the best of luck with working with her!