Kupa has pneumonia and is gravely ill. He is now gasping for air. His breathing is noisy. Dark tongue and dark nostrils, both of which should be pink. He is not getting enough oxygen. And I did not see him eat yesterday so we went to my vet in the afternoon.
After we visited the vet, where he had samples taken and swabs taken and spent most of the period swaddled in a towel in my arms, with me calling his call to him softly ‘ Neil-Neil, Neil-Neil. ‘ Kupa was still with shock, so we decided to bring him inside and put his box on the heated bathroom floor in the Coupe. Shock needs quiet and warmth and a cup of tea. Though I had the cup of tea. I am deeply against bringing wild animals inside but pneumonia needs warmth and humidity. Not dry, cold and dusty like the chook house and I can give him his medications for the next 24 hours without traumatising him by catching him each time. He can stay still and quiet. And I can make sure he eats and drinks. I have put two dog crates together so he can stretch out his tail.
But it is a catch 22. Birds, even robust birds like peacocks, are fragile really. A visit to the vet and a period in the house fill the bird with fear so are risky at best. But I should have taken him to the vet weeks ago. He has a great desire to survive to have lasted this long I think. At least there is no sign of worms at all.
Hopefully the antibiotics will clear up the ecoli lining his throat. But I may have left it too late. He is unchanged this morning.
I bet he wishes he was flying South for the winter. I have made him up a tonic of honey, fenugreek, (which promotes appetite in fowls) garlic and cider vinegar mixed with a lot of water. He has some in a bowl next to his clear water. And I shall also feed him drops of this when I can. He has four days of antibiotics ahead of him, injected into his breast. If he survives the next few nights he may survive the winter. But he will be living in the warm chook house with the chickens for the winter. No more free ranging with the others.
Today I will bring in a bigger cage and stand it upright in the basement so he can roost. Last night was pretty cramped for the poor fella, but he was warm and quiet.
In recovery mode, I hope. Nursing a bird is very different from nursing a sheep.
Have a lovely day.
your friend on the farmy
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
79 responses to “a peacock in the bathroom”
Many gentle hugs and prayers going out to you and Kupa.
Love to you and Kupa, you are a marvel the way you pull your creatures through their crises, and I hope this is is another of your triumphs..
.hanging out for tomorrow’s update…
I’m stunned you remember my husbands op. tomorrows the day. This dr. Is a goodie, so I hear! Thank you for the invite. You cannot imagine how I’d love to meet everyone. Reading your blog has been like dipping into the life I think I would have like — no loved– to have had. Such a romantic idea, at least I’m realistic enough to know, but it took a lifetime.
–The Armchair Farmer
Wish your husband luck for tomorrow from me.. You must both be on tenterhooks.and when the weather is nice you can both come down and sit on the verandah in the quiet and just be in the country for a while.. it is not flash here, but it is quiet. c
Oh dear.
C’mon Kupa! I’m sure a warm night will work wonders for him. If he can just hold on and give the antibiotics a chance to work. He’s got people across the globe pulling for him and hoping tomorrow brings better news. 🙂
I’m joining the others and wishing Kupa a speedy and full recovery. Antibiotics and tender loving care can work wonders and I hope they do that for him.
so do I.. Loved your handmade cards by the way.. gorgeous… c
So sorry for all the pain and suffering and worrying, Celi! I’ve had pneumonia 3x and have always been startled by the speed of the antibiotics’ impact, but I am not a peacock!
It has been two days now, so i am hoping that today will be the day he shows some signs of recovery. He has a strong will to live and this is the most important thing for an animal. They just wait otherwise. Horrible that your lungs got that bad too, I bet you look after yourself well after getting that sick three times.. c
I wondered if you brewed Kupa a cup of tea, then saw that it was yours. 🙂 Praying all goes well for our brightly-feathered buddy.
Really sorry that it’s turned out to be Pneumonia. Finger’s crossed for Kupa – all possible power to your efforts.
Keeping my fingers and toes…and eyes crossed for the poor old boy. Well done with the cup of tea. Much love and healing thoughts. 🙂
Hated hitting “like” on this one. Heal up, sweet peacock! We have one up the street from us…I LOVE their “noises.” So unique.
You have the loveliest of animals; so charmingly fortunate thou be. Happy holidays.