The last couple of days have been tense.
My 2 month old chick, in a curious peck, snagged a thread from the rafia string securing its feeding box. A thin piece had become entangled around the base of its tongue.
My heart sank. All I could do was carefully snip the thread and hope for the best.
The effect was immediate. The chick, usually bustling with energy, retreated to a quiet corner. It stopped eating and drinking entirely. I could tell it was in distress. The next day brought little improvement, though my hopes lifted when it pecked half-heartedly at a few pieces of its favorite dried crispy bread. Still, the evidence in its droppings confirmed it was eating very little.
By the third day, I saw a glimmer of progress. It managed some cracked corn, a bit of dry chicken feed, and a little more of the bread. While it was eating more, its appetite was still a shadow of its former self.
My worry deepened. I tried offering soft papaya slices, but it was ignored. Finally, a breakthrough: it showed interest in a few grains of soft cooked rice. By the end of the day, it had slowly consumed about a teaspoon's worth. A small but significant victory.
This morning, I watched as it scurried around, pecking with its old enthusiasm. It looks like its usual, cheerful self again. Am I in denial? I'd like to think I'm not. I think we're finally in the clear.
I have since replace the rafia string with a thick pvc cord. So far, nothing untoward has happened.
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(Note: An Amazon.com affiliate link)
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