Strange Growth on Shaft Tail's Beak

[chirpy]

Oh, I am so sorry for everything that is happening to you.. Prayers to you, your family and your feathered family. We are always here to listen to you. XO

[Ginene]

debbie276
Thanks Debbie. I am so glad too...and so is my hubby! Just proves how important it really is to go the extra mile (or $200) to get to the bottom of things. It is very sad that this is worse for my flock now, but considering that this could possibly be putting my family at risk, its a good thing we found out.

[Ginene]

chirpy
Thanks for the support and prayers...it will be a very long 8 weeks...I am in complete denial about the whole thing and am still hoping everything will turn out fine with my feathered and non-feathered family.

[Ginene]

Did more research on M-TB and unfortunately my vet is spot on. She's a smart lady...I was hoping to find some info on treatment, but there is none. And based on what I am reading, diagnosing a living bird seems nearly impossible. I am devastated and feel so powerless...

[debbie276]

Your vet is a keeper for sure! It's scary to think what could have happened without a proper diagnosis.

[Ginene]

debbie276
I agree...but ignorance is truly bliss . I spoke with my hubby and we have decided that we will do a necropsy on the next bird that passes. We should've done one on Bella...My RCCB hen hasn't been herself for over a week. And tonight I saw that she has a booboo of some sort above her right eye. I just removed her from her mate and he won't stop calling to her. I had her in the hospital cage for a week and she made a complete turn around. She was looking and acting fine, but I found her on the cage bottom again tonight. She is in the hospital cage again, after being back with her mate for only 1 day...

[Sally]

Omigosh, Ginene, I am so sorry that you got the diagnosis that you did, but on the other hand, I am so glad you had the tests done. Who would have thought that it could have been even worse than avian pox? But at least you now know what you are dealing with, even if it is bad news, because you would not have thought about getting yourself and your family tested. I agree with the others, you are lucky you have a really good avian vet.

[Nerien]

Oh Ginene, I am so sorry!

[Ginene]

Nerien
Thanks, Ruth. I have been doing tons of research and it is very scary that my family is at risk for this Drug Resistant form of TB. Especially Joseph, as children under the age of 17 are at greater risk of contracting it. I feel like I am in the Twilight Zone. Seriously...this is really bad. I am sure you already know this, with your and professional background. This is an incurable, contagious disease living within the birds in my home. I am actually scared for my family...Honestly...I feel as if this one is a no-brainer...I am not willing to out my family at risk for the sake of my birds. It is simply not an option for me. How selfish of me to not realize this earlier today. I am going to have to euthanize my flock to protect my family. I am devastated...but worse would be living with the chance of infecting my family with TB. I will call my vet when they open today, although I am not sure if they are in on Sundays. I cant imagine what people on the forum will think of me and my choice...but I can not worry about this. I can live with euthanizing my birds...I can not live with infecting my family...I will post an update asap, but then I am going to be leaving the forum. I thank you for your friendship and support, and will miss you and my other friends on the finch forum terribly. Mostly...I will miss my sweet, feathered family...

[Musetta]

Ginene, I am sure that no one on this forum, including myself, will think negatively of you or judge you for this decision. We all know how much you care for your birds, how much time, energy, emotion, and money you have invested in them. I don't know you well, but even I know this about you. I am just so unspeakably sorry that what began as such an uplifting and rewarding experience is ending this way for you. I am in no position to give you advice, and I know that there is nothing comforting that I can even write! I will miss you and your posts, and I hope that you return to finching one day, but completely understand if it would be too hard for you to start again. I wish you and your family all the best, and I am hopeful that in time, you will heal from this experience.

[Ginene]

Musetta
Thank you, Rachel. That means so much to me. I hope I can live with myself after this. I am not even coping with the decision well, I cant imagine how I am going be able to bring my babies to be put to their death...I pray that God forgives me for doing this

[Musetta]

Ginene, there is nothing to forgive. You are not a bad person, and you are not doing a bad thing. You have been put in an impossible situation, and you are doing the best you can for everyone involved. I think that if there is a Heaven, it is open to all creatures, and God will take care of them. And you! I understand that it is awful to have to make the decision to euthanize a beloved pet, but it is something that almost all responsible pet owners have to face at some point. For what it's worth, I think that you are very brave. The hardest part will be coming to peace within yourself.

[Ginene]

Musetta
Thank you so much, Rachel...

[Martie]

Ginene, I am so sorry you are going through this. I admire your courage and clarity and know it will be difficult. Sometimes in life we have to make difficult choices, but those are made a little easier, anyway, by the knowledge that you are doing the right thing for you and your family.

I wish you peace and all the best - things you absolutely deserve to have.

[Ginene]

Martie
Thank you, Martie. That means a lot to me. Best of luck to you in the future too...