CONTENT WARNING: Oncoming pet loss.
Poor Misty just cannot catch a break.
Today was the 4th or 5th time we’ve had to take her to the vet for health issues in 2026 alone. The first few times were eggs or egg debris that got stuck up in her oviduct, and once or twice for balance issues, but this time it was different.
This morning, her comb was turning purple, her crop was still full, and she was refusing to eat. None of which are good signs.
I openly admit that I am a helicopter chicken mama. I cannot help but to lose my mind a little each time one of my feather babies gets hurt or sick. And to see Misty in such a sad state really sent a shock through my system.
So I left work early and took her to the vet.
And the prognosis we got was bleak.
She likely has reproductive cancer with a secondary infection making it difficult for her to eat or stand.
Not exactly what we wanted to hear, but it definitely made sense. Misty has had reproductive issues her whole life, with a year or so window in between where the egg factory was working as intended.
During Summer 2024, she got sick and lost her ability to walk just as she started laying eggs as a pullet. Then she went to boarding school with two elderly silkies for a year and thrived but notably did not molt.
When she came back to us in Fall 2025 she was healthy enough to be with the rest of the flock, but again did not molt. Her body laser focused on egg production, as modern chickens are bred to do.
In spring of 2026 the major reproductive issues started. Eggs were not developing correctly, and they began breaking and getting stuck inside of her. I’ve had to put my fingers in her cloaca more times than I’d like to admit, but every time it saved her life.
No amount of probing or medicine will save her from cancer, though.
So now we will be taking care of her as an indoor hospice chicken. Our vet prescribed Clavacillin for the infection and syringe feeding Omnivore Critical Care for nutrition. We also are giving her crop massages to help get the food that is stuck in there into her digestive tract.
There is maybe a 10% chance that this is all just an infection that will clear up, but given her medical history I doubt that will happen.
So for now, we are going to love on her, take care of her, and enjoy her company while she’s still here. She’s a tough lady, and we know she’s fighting as hard as she can. And until her moment to cross the rainbow bridge comes, we will be fighting with her.
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