Sad Chicken Story Turned Happy

I've been too sad to write about a specific situation affecting one of our 13 chickens. So sad and worried that I didn't feel up to writing about this dear sweet chickie for fear that somehow I'd jinx something and she'd just keel over and die.

But a new leaf has been turned and this sweet chicken has took a turn for the better, under the most desperate and mysterious odds, she has overcome her affliction.

About 2 weeks ago, we discovered one of our favorite Barred Rock hens struggling to stand up and laying on her side, spinning in circles. Her legs just would not work. When I tried to help, her one leg would go into spasms and she'd just kick over and over, while the non-working leg would either be curled up and useless, or just uncoordinated.

I removed her from the rest of the chickens, for fear that she might have some contagious virus, and then I hand-fed her, held her water bowl to her face, and exercised her legs every day.

Things got worse before they got better. One day a few days ago, she had not moved from her one side, even when I tried to re-position her. She ended up covered in chicken poo and I had to wash and rinse her bottom (Eww) and even tore out a few feathers in the process, as gentle as I could be, too.

I was at the end of my wishful thinking. All but giving up hope. Planning for this sweet chicken's impending euthanasia.

That night I went to bed praying for her that she would get better. My hope for her was that she could join her fellow chicken-mates when we introduced them to their new coop and house for Christmas. But honestly, I didn't hold our much hope.

Then all of a sudden, just two days ago, I went to chcek on her and realized, with astonishment, that she was standing up!!! All by herself!
I congratulated and doted on her over and over, and our entire family was cheering her on excitedly!
Our dear girl was chirping and chattering, seemingly proud of herself, too.

And since that day, she has been gaining strength in her legs, practicing taking little steps. She still sometimes falls over after she shakes or preens her feathers, and she can be a little bit shaky while walking, but she has overcome the worst it seems!

Tonight I took her into the garage to visit with her chicken-mates and she walked around their pen and chirped back at them for a bit. And then I placed her back in our house inside her cage for the night. I'm praying for even more strength and miracles for our special chicken girl tonight! Merry Christmas and God Bless everyone...including chickens everywhere!


This was her the first day, just starting to stand up or squat over her legs, which was a huge improvement over laying splayed out on her side.
This cage is where our sick chicken has spent the past two weeks inside recuuperating.
Here she is standing!!! She was very happy to be standing in the sunlight, too.
Eating and pecking, while standing up, all on her own!
That's our beautiful chickie girl!!