puffy eye

One of my chickens has one puffy eye. i think it might have been like this for a few days. we noticed her sitting a lot with her eyes closed, but didn't think much of it. take a look and let me know what you think it is?

This looks like the start of a respiratory disease such as mycoplasma CRD) or coryza.. I would start her on Tylan 50--if you can give her a shot, give 1/2 ml. into the breast muscle each day for 3 days. You will need syringes and needles, If you can't give shots, give the same dose orally for 5 days. This medicine is in the cattle medicine section at the feed stores.

I agree with eggcessive about it being some form of respiratory or sinus infection. Personally, I would reach for the Duramycin-10 and give 1/2 tbls. per gallon of water every 24 hours. Save the Tylan for something else. Tylan is a really good drug but so is tetracyciline for respiratory issues. It's my drug of choice and even though I have Tylan 50 and 200, I have never had to use them....yet. I always go for the lesser first and save the 'big guns' for something later. You can also try some Vicks vaporub, rub a little bit right down the middle of the beak. another thing that will help if you have it is Oxine. You can spray this right onto the birds and it will be breathed in and help fight whatever it is you are dealing with.

Now the questions....is there a foul oder around the beak and head? Any type of a discharge from mouth or nostrils? Any other symptoms?

Do I need to treat the whole flock?
thanks for your help.

haunted, i'm not sure. i'll check tomorrow. if it does, what does that mean?

Me, personally, I would, until I knew just what was going on. If this does turn out to be more than a sinus infection, the quicker you treat, the less likely you are to have a lot of lasting affects. Remember...chickens do not get 'colds' they get diseases. They can have allergies, they can have simple sinus infections, but they can also have diseases that start with the same symptoms as you described. I personally believe in being proactive rather than reactive. You have to make that decision for yourself. If this did turn out to be Coryza, MG, or even IB, I believe it is better to treat them all and lessen the chance for full blown affliction or secondary infections. That's me, some will tell you to wait or have tests to find out what you are dealing with first. Again, your choice on that. I will tell you this, no matter what it is, a good poultry vitamin along with a good probiotic can only do her good. resistance to disease and allergies start in the gut. With a probiotic in her water, she has a better chance of fighting whatever this turns out to be, off. Just my 2 cents.

I feed them an organic feed with probiotics and they also get fermented feed once a day. I think she has good stuff in her guts, but I do like that you like that approach too.
Have you ever used VetRX for something like this?

Externally, yes, but have found the Vicks to be stronger and more long lasting. You can also use lavender oil, food grade.

There was a tiny tick stuck to the top eye lid. I'm guessing that was the issue but I got some Duramycin and will treat the flock for 5 days. My rooster has a slight gurggle after he crows so i wonder if that is an issue too.

Wow! Good catch! Given the stuff I was just looking at a couple of days ago....I would most definitely treat her with an antibiotic as well as the others as a 'just in case'. I found that chickens can even get Lyme Disease, although usually it is short lived in them. If it were me, I'd go 7 days with the Duramycin. That's me though.
Terskikh, 1972; Galun et al., 1972; Elkifl et al., 1973......


https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/poultry-ticks
http://www.helium.com/items/1467669-treatments-for-ticks-on-chickens