Taking Care of Swirls, the Wry Neck Silkie

[NubbyRyuu]

Make sure she has some chick grit available if she's going to be eating new stuff like grass. If she's just on crumbles and egg, she's ok without it.

Oh I have some! I just wanted her to have a taste and test her to see if she could eat it. To be careful, I'm giving her a little bit of grit once a day (she still gets her food wet and mushy), until she can start eating solids again.

 

[NubbyRyuu]

Bit of a setback today. Seems a bit stressed. Before going out to feed the horse and goat, I took her out if the cage and put my hands over her to simulate a mother hen, and she calmed down and gave a cute "birdie pur". Maybe I should get her something like this: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petco...ken-coop-accessories/you-and-me-bird-hideaway

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Bit of a setback today. Seems a bit stressed. Before going out to feed the horse and goat, I took her out if the cage and put my hands over her to simulate a mother hen, and she calmed down and gave a cute "birdie pur". Maybe I should get her something like this: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petco...ken-coop-accessories/you-and-me-bird-hideaway

I'm sorry it's not a good day for her.
The hideaway may be a good idea. You can also give her a stuffed animal to snuggle with. Some find that an unbreakable mirror also helps, they like looking at themselves.

 

[NubbyRyuu]

I'm sorry it's not a good day for her.
The hideaway may be a good idea. You can also give her a stuffed animal to snuggle with. Some find that an unbreakable mirror also helps, they like looking at themselves.

I gave her two, lol! One is a small Snivy plush, and the other us now a small [easter] duck plush I got at Dollar Tree; she wasn't liking the Spiderman cube plush I gave her. She seems better now. It's like the mornings tend to be the rough patches sometimes.

 

[NubbyRyuu]

Welp, she's really attached to me now...oops. Was sitting to dinner around 10pm est, and after a few minutes, I hear Swirly make a long drawn out peep noise; she was looking down at me (her cage is up on my dresser and I was sitting on the floor) with that look on her face. She kept doing it so I set up the snuggie next to me and put her on it. Within seconds, I was getting birdie purrs, and she settled down. She also does the sad tone when I leave the room. I'd take her with me if I didn't have the dogs (Lily and Sly killed one of the therapy chickens I knew, and Sly gets way too excited when I come in smelling like the chickens), or if they were more trained (they're more my parents' than mine...yes I live with my folks...). I'm trying to see if there's a kind of carry case I can put her in and take her with me outside on my back, as well as get her a harness so I can let her walk around outside. Who knows? Maybe Cin's rooster, Slim, will help watch out for her.

 

[NubbyRyuu]

Doing better this morning. She seems to be gaining balance now; she lifted her foot up and preened a feather or two (and on my knee no less). She's holding her head up more and looks around with such curiosity. Her neck is also starting to straighten out, though she still reverts back, she will walk forward when she wants.

"Look at my booty feathers!"

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Doing better this morning. She seems to be gaining balance now; she lifted her foot up and preened a feather or two (and on my knee no less). She's holding her head up more and looks around with such curiosity. Her neck is also starting to straighten out, though she still reverts back, she will walk forward when she wants.

View attachment 1724592 View attachment 1724593
"Look at my booty feathers!"
View attachment 1724594

She's looking so much better! Just a cute little thing

 

[NubbyRyuu]

Found Bandit's (our Chihuahua) harness that he really doesn't need as he walks on his leash just fine. With it being fully adjustable, I got it to where it should fit Swirly (who isn't too thrilled with me). Oh yeah, she fought back, but without really putting it on, I'm showing her it won't harm her, but she flips over me petting her anyway...been handling you for almost two weeks, kid. At least with this I'll be able to let her walk around outside without getting too far, as well as deter the hawks. One less thing for me to worry about.

 

[NubbyRyuu]

Understands dry food, but not how to drink. So throughout the day, while she ate a lot of her food, not all of it was finished. I decided a half hour before bed (she got fed late today) I'd make her some regular dry food to see what she'd do. Without a second thought she went for it. So I tried bringing her some water like before. Within several minutes of much banging in the cage, she was wet. Not in any distress, but wet. Perhaps she isn't quite ready for dry, but how am I gonna get her to drink? She hasn't tried the water bottle, so the only source of water is what I mix in the food. The syringe route doesn't go well as I can't force her beak open (don't wanna hurt her). She likes to peck, even though her aim is poor. I saw some things out there, like those chicken cups, but I'm not sure what else to do.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Understands dry food, but not how to drink. So throughout the day, while she ate a lot of her food, not all of it was finished. I decided a half hour before bed (she got fed late today) I'd make her some regular dry food to see what she'd do. Without a second thought she went for it. So I tried bringing her some water like before. Within several minutes of much banging in the cage, she was wet. Not in any distress, but wet. Perhaps she isn't quite ready for dry, but how am I gonna get her to drink? She hasn't tried the water bottle, so the only source of water is what I mix in the food. The syringe route doesn't go well as I can't force her beak open (don't wanna hurt her). She likes to peck, even though her aim is poor. I saw some things out there, like those chicken cups, but I'm not sure what else to do.

Have you tried a hanging cage cup that is about chest high?
I've never used a nipple water bottle before so can't make any suggestions on that.