A PLUCKY chicken has made a miracle recovery after a fox attack left it with severe injuries.

Owner Kate Parker-Smith, from Branksome, said she didn’t expect Peggy the Silkie chicken to survive after a fox attacked her, ripping the skin from her neck and shoulder.

“It was horrible,” she said. “It had dragged her and her metal crate two metres across the garden and had caught her by her feathers, tearing her skin off. There were feathers everywhere.

“After chasing the fox away, I scooped Peggy up and took her straight to the vet. She was still alive and her head was up and she was trying to flap her wings a bit. But I thought she would probably have to be put to sleep.”

After bringing her in to Poole Road Veterinary Surgery, Mrs Parker-Smith said she was surprised to see Peggy staying calm, despite her ordeal.

“I thought she’d die of shock but, after leaving her a few hours, she continued to show this strength - she even laid an egg.

“She had a stroke last year and survived that, but I didn’t expect her to survive this operation too. Afterwards, she was bright and alert and laid another egg,” she added.

Vet Henry Feilden said most people would have put Peggy to sleep in her state. “She had a terribly wounded neck and had suffered a loss of tissue between her beak and shoulders. "The skin had been lifted off and stretched back and there was muscle damage in places,” he said.

“However, not long after she was brought in she laid an egg, which showed to me she obviously had the will to live.

“So we operated on her that evening and she went under anaesthetic very nicely. She had 36 stitches in total. Her left shoulder was in a terrible state – it was ripped out, but we repaired it and pulled the skin back into place.”

He added: “On the surface it looked like an impossible task, but it just goes to show if you apply yourself, and give yourself time, it’s remarkable what you can achieve.”

Mrs Parker-Smith said she was “very grateful” to Mr Feilden and the nurse who assisted him in the surgery.

“They are very skilled at what they do and it’s a miracle Peggy is with us.

“She’s a very special and spirited little chicken and we love her very much.”