March 22, 2020 – July 30, 2023
Piper hatched on March 22, 2020, and was raised by her mama hen, Ginger. At just four weeks old, I started to notice something unusual — Piper was lying down often and struggling to keep up with the rest of her clutch. When she did move, she would hop and flap her wings before needing to rest again.
I brought her into the house to examine her more closely. It became clear: Piper couldn’t walk. I reached out to other chicken owners for advice, but the responses were discouraging. Some suggested that she was suffering and that I should put her down; but I didn’t see suffering. Piper was bright-eyed, alert, and full of spirit. She didn’t show a sense of pain — she just couldn’t use her legs. What I did see was determination and an incredible will to live.
It was the start of the pandemic, and I was working from home — which meant I suddenly had a full-time house chick. Based on research, it seemed Piper had a slipped tendon in her leg. I followed a helpful YouTube tutorial to gently reset and wrap it, then gave her time to heal and begin a lot of trial and error with physical therapy.
At night, Piper slept in a cat kennel. During the day, she relaxed on her favorite pillow while I worked. She eventually upgraded to a dog crate for more space — chicks grow fast! If I left the room, she would holler with the most powerful scream until I returned. That’s how she got her name — Piper, for the insane set of pipes she used to call me back. I was her mama now, and she needed to be near me at all times.
In the evenings, we’d cuddle (sometimes with her visiting clutch mates). She’d lie on my chest before bedtime, then I’d tuck her into her kennel and cover it with a towel. She’d stay quiet all night until I said, “Good morning, Piper!” at sunrise — and she’d chirp excitedly, ready for a new day.
As her recovery continued, her toes began to curl — likely from a vitamin deficiency. I adjusted her diet and added supplements. A friend even 3D printed tiny chicken sandals to help her toes grow straight. She wasn’t a fan at first, but once she realized they helped her balance, she was off and running. The tippy-tappy of her tiny sandals on the floor became one of my favorite sounds. It didn’t take her long to get the hang of them. After about three days, there was a significant improvement in her toes and she was walking again!
Piper came with me just about everywhere. She learned to “go poops” before we got into the truck, then rode along quietly — either in a little basket or perched on my shoulder while my husband drove us to Tractor Supply. She always drew smiles and attention from curious strangers.
After about two months, Piper was strong enough to return to the flock. She was shy at first, but soon reintegrated beautifully. Other than her adorably crooked toes and slightly off-center tail, she lived like any other chicken. She still loved jumping onto my shoulder — always remained mama’s girl.
On October 12, 2020 — exactly one year after my father passed — I witnessed Piper lay [what I like to believe to be] her very first egg. I teared up as she stared at it, bewildered, unsure of what had just happened. It was a small, quiet moment that brought unexpected comfort on a tough day.
On April 25, 2023, Piper became a mama for the first time. Here is a sweet video of her watching the hatchling with its little eggshell hat.
In the summer of 2023, a respiratory infection hit our flock. We lost several of our younger birds. Piper caught it too — and after losing her babies, she passed on July 30, 2023. My heart broke when I found her. The day before, we had spent precious one-on-one time together and took her final selfie. I’m so glad we had those final moments.
Piper will forever remain one of my most special girls. She was a fighter, a cuddler, a shoulder-sitter, and a feathered companion with more heart than most.
She taught me about resilience, trust, and how fiercely a little life can love.
