The girls have moments of looking brighter and moments of looking down again. In the morning when I let them out they look fine but then I hear the slight wheeze in Freckles and Dandelion’s breathing and hear sneezing from each of them at different times and I know that really they are not fine.
They are still eating three dishes, a day, of their mash with tylan water and ground poultry zest as well as drinking the tylan water.
It’s always when they perch up that I can see that they are not well. They were perched on the branch perch above the ladder in the sunny spot this morning when I checked on them. One of Dandelions eyes was so frothy that it looked as if it had frosted over. She didn’t seem able to blink it away like she usually does.
I tried stroking her to see if she would blink as she only barely tolerates being stroked. In fact the fact that she let me stroke her shows she is not her usual self. I then hand fed her some spinach leaves. I thought that the action of eating leaves would cause her to blink and clear her eye. She did manage to clear it while eating the spinach.
Dandelion’s eye has bubbles again
Freckles and Dandelion not looking good
I am so frustrated that they don’t seem to be getting better but then I have to remind myself that they are not getting worse either.
In three weeks Caramel went from coming into the flock to being put to sleep. She went from one eye swollen, to mucus oozing from her nostrils, rattly breathing and finally both eyes swollen shut. I have since read that there is no coming back from rattly breathing.
It has now been four weeks since this started and it is day sixteen of the second round of tylan. My feelings are that the daily tylan is keeping it under control and stopping it from progressing but not actually getting rid of it. I don’t know how long it is okay to keep going like this. I wish someone could tell me that in time they would get better.
The little girls congregate together at bedtime before going in the chicken shed
Top girl and oldest girl, Emerald, always goes into the chicken shed first each day. Speckles, surrogate mother, follows Emerald in and then comes out again several times, clucking to the little girls to tell them to go in. She gets very agitated and runs back and forth trying to encourage the little girls to go in. They take no notice of her!
In their own sweet time the little girls go in and they all snuggle up close together. I just don’t know how this is going to work out but I don’t know what else to do.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
It is so sad, I am sure every one are willing them to get better.
I know.
Very frustrating, and your photos show it all – looking really poorly sometimes, then looking better. I remember how dreadful Caramel looked, by the end – the pre-bedtime photo shows the others are not as bad as that. I really feel for you; it no doubt makes you feel despondent at times; however, tbhey do show energy some of the time. X
You couldn’t put it better. I do feel despondent at times despite doing my best to stay positive. I go over and over what I should do next and just can’t seem to move on at the moment. I don’t want to make a mistake either way, giving up too soon or going on too long. I don’t want to risk losing all four little girls but equally don’t want to sacrifice two if they could get better. It’s a really tough call that I just can’t seem to make right now. X
We are all willing them to get better Carol xx
I know you are and your support means so much to me. It keeps me going xx
Hi Carol,
I can imagine it is so difficult knowing what to do. I wish I knew how to help.
Are you on Facebook? I found and joined a group on there a while ago called “Chicken Vet Corner’s Chicken Talk” – I have never participated but see posts from people asking for help and there are lots of poultry vets on there that respond. It could be worth making a post to see if anyone has any experience or ideas on your situation?
I don’t do Facebook. I only do blogs and don’t want to get into all that sort of stuff. I do read forums and do loads of research and am talking to loads of vets and pet places but can’t find anything more than I have already put out on my blog. I am trying every angle at the moment but no one seems to have any more information than I already have. I didn’t post today as I didn’t make any head way with my enquiries today but will be back soon with what I can. I know every one would help if they could. I will keep going and will keep reporting my progress.