St. Phatty
Active member
This is a Silkie bird that hid under a box after some neighbor's dogs visited.
The dogs were friendly, but the birds didn't know that !
It took me 3 days to find her. Her left leg was paralyzed at first, like it had fallen asleep.
Over a one week recovery period, she learned to walk again.
She was much more active yesterday so I thought I would try re-introducing her to the flock today.
Big mistake - putting her back in the group (of 4 other birds).
I went back in 15 minutes and found her, like this.
They pecked all the skin off the back of her head, down to the bone.
I think that included where her ears were.
Anyway, now she is eating. She launched into some mayonnaise with genuine enthusiasm, so that is a healthy sign.
I think she needs to drink water but she does not agree. Having trouble getting her to do that.
I now have a cat food can full of melted ice cream. I smear that around her beak and she licks it off.
Anyway this poor bird, if she lives through the night, now has another week or 2 of Bird Rehab.
Oh man I feel like smoking some Blueberry headband.
I'm afraid to touch the wound. I have Chlorhexidine Gluconate, sterile rinse that dentists and vets use. But I think I'll keep giving her her favorite foods and wait a few days before daring to touch the wound.