In sickness and health

Mango holding on to her life support. 

I'm in a morally tight spot today. I took Mango my chicken off of life support. Meaning, that I have stopped the antibiotics, I stopped feeding her my power green juice and water, and have left her to her own ways.

This morning she did not speak to me when I said "GOOD MORNING MANGO!!"

Ron (my sheep dog cat) sat outside all night howling.... the same howl he comes to me with when watts is up from his nap and screaming to get out.

Ron has not left Mango's side... he sleeps right next to her and only comes in to eat. I don't quite understand the relationship except I think Ron may think that this is another baby that is clearly sick.

Anyway, I couldn't take it any longer. I can't let her die.... I should really just snap her neck and get this over with, but Ron and I can save her.... I just have to feed her, and she will be up and at them again. Who cares if it is a huge pain in the ass, and that it takes a lot of work. She gets better and it's because of my force feedings.

I picked her up and inspected her... bone thin, she hasn't been eating enough.... She is starving.

After lots of research I have determined that she has something called crookneck. It normally happens with the breed "Silkie" which is the breed of my "Fluffy girl"

Mango is not a silkie. Silkies get this disorder because they have a soft spot on their skull.  All it takes is one sharp peck to the skull from another bird and bam, the neck goes in between the feet, and they start walking backwards. It's neurological.

This could be what Mango has, but I'm not a vet, and for some reason it seems that chickens are hard to diagnose because they are tough little bastards that refuse to act or show sickness.

I'm going to become a chicken clucker (like a horse whisperer only with lucks instead of whispers) and  I know I can save this bird with lots of diligent care. Who cares if she spends the rest of her life walking backwards with her neck all screwy. I have better conversations with her than I do most humans. AND... Ron told me to "DO SOMETHING!, Quick"

It's morally wrong. This bird may be suffering, and I am letting it go on much longer then it should. I am also defying nature. Yet, look at those parents that lost two kids that were really sick... they just prayed for them to get better and did not take them to the hospital and the kids died, and now... the parents are on trial for watching their kids die without giving them medical attention.

I could go to jail..... I HAVE TO SAVE THE DAY!


Anyway, to make a long story short.

I injected Mango, my speechless girl with my green juice and some water. The food is in her gullet being digested. After a half hour I put her on her back and held her claw... her foot wrapped around my finger tighter and tighter as the food passed into her body. And then.... a squeak.

and a purr.....

My girl was coming back to life in front of me. I massaged the bottom of her foot and noticed it turned from white/blue to yellow. The color of health.

She was still in there somewhere.

"Mango my sweet girl.... are you still in there? Mommy is here"
a very week "cheep cheep.... purrrrrr"

What a compliment.
A real purr.... that is only given amongst baby flocks as they snuggle in together under the heat lamp at night.

This sucks.... to be honest. I just wanted some chickens to lay some eggs. I hated birds before this... they are so complicated, and hard to take care of. They have crazy bodies, and personalities.

My whole life I had animals that would just drop dead the minute I brought them home from the pet shop.... Dozens of fish, hamsters, Guinea pigs, rats, cats, dogs, rabbits, chinchillas... are buried in my backyard....

AND now... my curse is that I get very sick animals that just wont die.
All for a stupid purr and some conversation, and the look of gratitude and devotion.
And Ron giving me the look of desperation to save his new friend. I can't take it! I'm special, this bird is special, and Ron is special, we are a bunch of special need idiots bonded to the hip!

It's wrong.
I know it..... Maybe someone should just snap my neck out of this ridiculousness.