Can favus turn respiratory? Treatment?

[micstrachan]

Since Bridge’s mobility issue keeps getting worse and worse, I’m thinking more and more that maybe it’s a tumor.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sweet Girl! She is hanging in there.
I'm sure she is likes being outside for a little while.

Michelle, you are doing all you can for her, oh my, this is hard isn't it, you love her so. She's been around a long time hasn't she...

She looks comfy in the basket, what a lovely rug. You may be right that she has a tumor.

Hugs and prayers for you both

 

[micstrachan]

Yes, Melody. She’s almost ten. When my husband came home with four chicks (one for each human) on my daughter’s birthday in February, Bridge was “mine.” She has been an amazing chicken. Strong, yet gentle leader. Didn’t really have to assert her dominance very often ; she was just the boss after Margo died and a simple look usually did the trick.. She has loved to sit on my lap (she used to like to perch on my shins) forever. She had the sweetest chirpy greeting. And once her mobility got poor, she’d yell at me way across the card to come get her. Since Flo’s been a bully, Bridge will make her way to my feet and ask to be picked up. She is very special.

I’ll find some pics.

 

[micstrachan]

Bridge made it through the night and I held her for a few hours this morning. Once the day warmed up, I placed her in the run and dug a little ditch for her to be in. If she makes it through the day, I’ll bring her back in tonight and possibly sooner once it cools off. Since I had loved on her as much as I could this morning and she seemed as content as she could be with her friends nearby, I went for a quick drive down to get fertilizer for my tall bearded Iris flowers. I came home to this…

I think they know. I wish I could trust Flo to be with her and I’d put them all together, but I just can’t. Flo will for sure try to beat her up. It seems every time I move Bridge she really struggles so I’m just gonna let her be there for a while since she has good company.

​

 

[micstrachan]

Bridge had a relatively good day. This is after I thought she was going to die on my lap this morning. She can’t stand nor walk, but she’s still drinking and eating a bit. Her crop was full this morning, which is a huge bummer, but she’s still pooping. Here she is at my feet right now. She got pretty excited about the wheat bread and zucchini and tired herself out eating it. She keeps waking up, seeing her treats, scarfing a few bites, and going back to sleep.

I don’t know if this is the most drawn out death in the history of chickens or if she could possibly pull through (doubtful). Meanwhile, I’ll keep supporting her the best I can.

I have to put her outside tomorrow morning before going to work. I’m reluctant to put her on a heating pad, even a low watt one, because she’s pretty immobile. I may just have a warm heater in the run.

I’m not nebulizing her anymore nor treating with doxy. However, I did give her aspirin yesterday and today to hopefully alleviate some ascites. She actually seems in better shape tonight than last night, but I’m not sure how that can be. Her belly is huge and tight. It seems the less I handle her the better. I think she knows she is loved even when I don’t hold her.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She's getting lots of love!

Yes, I think their friends do know she's not well and time may be short. I've seen that within my own flock where the others come and sit with them for periods of time throughout the day.

Sounds like she had a good day.

 

[micstrachan]

I’m realizing now that the cyst that was at the top of Bridges crop that I thought was gone isn’t. I think it’s a huge tumor. All of a sudden I can see it through her feathers. It’s like a bulge on her neck just appeared overnight.

 

[micstrachan]

Also, her crop has slowed way down. She’s still pooping, but the crop isn’t moving much. The bulge in the photo is not her crop.

 

[micstrachan]

Or it’s almost like her neck is out of alignment or something? I don’t know when this happened. She’s pretty much just sleeping now. She woke up and had a couple enthusiastic sips of water and went right back to sleep. Every time she wakes up I say hello so she knows I’m here and she’s loved.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She may have a tumor. Poor thing!

The crop does often slow down like that when they are declining. Sounds like she's still trying.