EYE INFECTION - It's Not Always Mycoplasma - UPDATE w pics!

Hello, everyone! I've got two questions.

1) Over the weekend, I noticed I've got a 15-week-old pullet with a scabby bump over her left eye. It's not hard, but it's not fluid-filled, either... Feels more like a skin tag. It's not red or pussing. It's the same color as her skin, and there is a little indention in the very center of it. Based on what I've read on here, it looks like she got bitten by an insect or something. In the corner of her eye, she's got some bubbly discharge (clear), but no sneezing, nasal discharge, mites/parasites, or anything like that I can see. She is spry, active, and eats and drinks with the rest of the flock. Do I need to do anything special for my pullet or just keep her under observation?

2) This morning when I fed my flock, I noticed three or four instances of runny, watery, white diarrhea around the coop. There was no evidence of diarrhea under any roost position, so it must have happened this morning upon waking (I check morning and night during the week for any unusual poops - more during the weekend when I'm home). There were no chunks... just like pouring a small amount of watery milk on the floor. I've never seen any blood in any poops. Could it be the pullet with the eye bump? Could it be a pullet/rooster with kidney damage from eating layer ration with calcium (I am just now reading that calcium too early can be bad, even though the lady assured me there would be no issue feeding them ALL layer ration)? The pullets have been eating layer ration for one month to the day. The roosters have been eating it for two months.

None of the others have any eye or respiratory issues that I know of. They are all active, free range on a quarter acres, and are laying just fine. I feed everyone an organic, non-gmo, corn-free, soy-free layer-ration with calcium supplement free-choice.

My flock has been with me for two months now, and as a first-time Chicken Mama, I am curious what to do in this situation. I've got four birds (two hens, two roosters) that are seven months, and six pullets that are 15 weeks.

Any advice is HUGELY appreciated!!!

Thank you!

MrsB

Bump for help!

MrsB

Pictures of her eye and of the diarrhea might get more responses.

You raise a valid point... I will try for pictures when I get home. I wasn't able to take any this morning.

Thanks!

MrsB

Here is a photo (or two, if I can get it to work) of my girl's eye. It's much better today... no bubbling that I can see.

Thoughts?

MrsB

She has some green discoloration around the eye which may be bruising. She could have a peck wound from the older hens or other injury that caused her eye to have a little foam. Fowl pox can also show up around an eye causing a scab, and sometimes the eye bubbles, but I can't see your picture clearly. I would apply some Terramycin or plain Neosporin ointment to her eye twice a day. If there is eye drainage, that can be cleaned with saline. If the eye becomes swollen with any discharge, let us know. If you notice any of your hens standing around puffed up, not interested in food, or acting lethargic, then I would treat them for coccidiosis with a round of Corid (amprollium) in their water for 5 days. If they are not doing any of this, the diarrhea may just be from drinking a lot of water. Worming them twice a year would be good to do with Valbazen, just in case they have worms. Dosage is 1/2-1 ml orally, then repeat in 10 days.

Based on the pictures I've seen, this doesn't appear to be Fowl Pox, and it has gotten much better since yesterday. She has no more bubbles (and didn't have any at the time we took the photo, either). I'll still treat it with a little ointment.

I saw no evidence of the white diarrhea last night or this morning. I guess it was a "passing" phase... Hahahaha.

Thank you for your advice, @Eggcessive . It seems all is well in our flock now.

MrsB

Things have taken a turn for the worse.

I checked this morning, and what looked like a peck wound and some bruising (that cleared up) has now turned into a large black mass, swelling, and bubbles. Her other eye is fine, she's still eating an drinking, and seems alert and active.





Best pictures I can get at the moment. :/

We've got her in the garage/dog crate infirmary, away from the other chickens. If this IS the pox, I shudder to think. No one else has any spots on eyes, comb or otherwise.

I will begin a regimen of warm, saline water rinse with a little Neosporin to help her heal.

Besides taking her to a vet, what else I can do for her at home? :/ I've read of people giving LA200? No idea what that is or how to administer.

Any help is hugely appreciated. Thank you!

MrsB

Sorry that it is looking worse. LA200 is an injectable form of oxytetracycline. If she is eating and drinking, she can take the oral form which is powder added to water. Also Gallimycin for the water if available at your feed store is a good antibiotic to treat a wound infection or a respiratory infection which can affect the eye. Tylan 50 injectable can also be given orally or as a shot for respiratory infection in the eye. A vet if available could give you a more powerful antibiotic that treats either gram negative or gram positive bacteria.

The dosage for this brand of oxytetracycline is 2 1/2 tablespoonsful per gallon of water for 7 days.