Lynne Porter, from Southport, Merseyside, developed deadly Pigeon Fancier's Lung due to years of unwittingly inhaling the feathers of her beloved budgies, parrots, parakeets and quails.

Doctors told the 61-year-old animal lover, who bred up to 160 chicks a year for two decades, it was 'her birds or her life' after the pets caused permanent lung damage and scarring.

Retired nurse Lynne Porter, 61, developed deadly Pigeon Fancier's Lung
Spent years inhaling the feathers of budgies, parrots, parakeets and quails
Bred 160 chicks a year but the pets have caused permanent lung damage


Mrs Porter claims she had a special bond with every one of her feathered friends and said each individual bird would respond to its name.

But when doctors gave her the news the animals were killing her, she was forced to leave her bird-breeding days behind.

Now all birds, animals with thick fur and even feathered bedding are deadly to Lynne due to her inflammatory condition, which is also known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Mrs Porter, who also suffers from lung condition sarcoidosis and a rare form of TB, said her bird-keeping times were 'the best days of her life'.

source daily mail