New Brahma Group: Blue Partridge x Partridge, Plus Dark

[1muttsfan]

Sending Tom lots of healthy vibes!

 

[speckledhen]

Today Bonnie passed out. I mean THUD, on the floor with her neck stretched out, eyes closed. I thought she'd just died. Axel didn't know what to do. I was in the barn aisle, heard a thump like Axel had jumped down onto the floor and landed hard. I looked that direction and saw her in a pile on the floor. I ran in and lifted her up, her eyes opened, but she was unsteady on her feet. She was next to the waterer and acted like she didn't remember how to drink, looking around the sides in a daze. In a minute or two, she snapped out of it and walked over to her usual corner. It was like my Orpington cross hen, Meg, who was about Bonnie's size, when she'd go flat out then come out of it slowly. She had several episodes before she died not long afterward. I figured they were some type of mini-stroke.

Looking back a couple of weeks, I found Bonnie sitting sort of sideways, like she was favoring one leg and had to help her up. At the time, I thought Axel got a bit amorous and somehow sprained her leg when she tried to shake him off. It was probably a similar incident. Her wing is just one giant scab, seems to be growing back, fusing a bit to where it was separated, but other than the fact that it was a devastating injury from which she had to recover, I don't see this as necessarily related. It's just like Meg. If you recall, three of Bash's hens have already passed on so it may soon be Bonnie's time. Just don't know what I'll do with Axel. My Belgian D'Anver hen, Mina, is in rough shape, close to me putting her down. She is still energetic, but daily multiple seizures is taking its toll. As of yesterday, after one seizure, her head was tilted to the side and I don't know if it was hurt when she was flopping around or it's part of her neurological decline.

 

[1muttsfan]

It sounds like a syncope episode. My best guess would be she has heart problems. When she runs out of oxygen she keels over, then when her oxygen levels catch up, she'll recover. They're often quite dazed initially after an episode.

 

[speckledhen]

It sounds like a syncope episode. My best guess would be she has heart problems. When she runs out of oxygen she keels over, then when her oxygen levels catch up, she'll recover. They're often quite dazed initially after an episode.

I always appreciate your input, Mary. Yes, sounds like it could be that. Your knowledge always adds to mine, thank you! Being a huge bird with recent stress from her injury, it could have been extra hard on her heart, I'd think. Meg did the same thing a few times before she died. She was at least as big as Bonnie and I think about 6-7 years old at her demise. She was a huge bright red hen, exhibition Buff Orpington over breeder quality Rhode Island Red, or maybe the RIR was her sire, been too long ago to remember that. She was the mother of the big red rooster out of my Suede that I named my Hector after. It's disconcerting for a big hen to just drop like a stone!

 

[speckledhen]

I wanted to add that Bonnie is still not herself after her fainting spell. Today, she let me pet her while she was standing inside the barn door, didn't even flinch. Then, she let me pick her up. That is so not Bonnie Blue. She is one of the "touch me not" types, always has been. Considering that Bash has already lost three of his hens a year ago, I would not be surprised if she wasn't around much longer.

 

[1muttsfan]

Syncope is usually a sign of significant heart disease, so she probably does not feel very energetic at any time, and may have discomfort or even pain. So many things I would like to ask animals - Do they get headaches? Sore throats? Logic would tell us yes.

 

[speckledhen]

Syncope is usually a sign of significant heart disease, so she probably does not feel very energetic at any time, and may have discomfort or even pain. So many things I would like to ask animals - Do they get headaches? Sore throats? Logic would tell us yes.

I was thinking that very thing a couple of days ago, how I wish I could ask them what hurts, how they feel. She is definitely different than her usual self. Makes me wonder if having Axel in there is more of a stress for her than just being alone most of the time. He did make a pretty good breeding attempt on her yesterday for the first time that I've seen. Yes, he's not as rough on her as Bash would be, but it may still be too much for her. Knowing that what is happening is a sign of significant heart deficiency, I would guess she has little time left, though I could be wrong. Meg didn't live very long after she began having those episodes.

 

[speckledhen]

Ages ago, Bonnie tore her wing, separated her until it was somewhat better after months of antibiotic ointment and special care, then we put Axel, the little bantam Cochin rooster troublemaker, in with her for company. Today, I smelled something awful, rotten even, thought it was Mina as she was dying up above in the cage (she is now gone, crop stopped, had to help her on) but it wasn't her. It was Bonnie, under the wing. Axel has apparently torn the new skin away from the big scab and it was bleeding. I don't know what's up, but here are pictures. The big scab in the second picture is the top of the cartilage, I guess. I'm so tired of this situation. Poor Bonnie. I feel bad for Axel, too, being alone again. Not sure what to do about this. @1muttsfan what do you think?

Adding new info later in the day: Bonnie is probably not going to make it. She stopped eating, just drops food, her crop is a bit sluggish though she has barely eaten anything at all and though you can't tell by looking at her, she has lost a ton of weight. Today, she was shaky on her feet, too. I think that this serious injury so late in her life has done her in. Darn it. She's just so beautiful. She raised so many chicks here, probably 8 groups in her first two years of life, same as Brandy.

 

[1muttsfan]

Ugh that is so sad! It looks like she formed more of a crust of dried tissue over the wound instead of having flesh heal back over. Could it granulate in eventually? Maybe, but it doesn't sound like she is doing that great. And I'm sorry to hear about Mina as well.

Sorry I did not get back sooner Cyn, I was AWOL for a few days.

 

[speckledhen]

Ugh that is so sad! It looks like she formed more of a crust of dried tissue over the wound instead of having flesh heal back over. Could it granulate in eventually? Maybe, but it doesn't sound like she is doing that great. And I'm sorry to hear about Mina as well.

Sorry I did not get back sooner Cyn, I was AWOL for a few days.

No worries, Mary, you're a busy woman. No, she isn't doing that great, very weak and shaky. She won't eat unless I bring her eggs so she's super thin. The dried crust confused me because I expected it to dissipate eventually and new skin to form, but it didn't. Also, since she has a heart issue, passing out a couple of times, could it be that her circulation is impeded, thereby impeding the healing process? She'd be 8 yrs in June if she made it, but I dont think she will. We've been on this for months now and I just feel it wasn't anything we did or didn't do. That was a devastating injury on an old hen. And if you recall, already three of the hens have passed on so she's already outlived them. Brandy is laying eggs now, but they aren't fertile and I didn't expect they would be. Bash is so clumsy when he tries to breed his remaining two girls and they aren't really keen to submit anyway.