Eye Problems - Treat the Whole flock? [pics]

[Maryallison]

Oh I am really thinking happy thoughts for you are hope your flock is going to be ok. I understand...the chickens are like my pets too & I have young kids that pick them up and love them.

 

[NotTheMomma]

Definitely have the state vet test them, or take one with symptoms to the vet for testing. Sounds like you have some carriers in your flock. Best to forewarn the others that you gave chickens to as well.

I hope it's nothing serious.

Hugs!

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

here is a article on MG or CRD the same thing

Here is a link to an article on MG.


http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PS034

Mycoplasma Gallisepticum - A Continuing Problem in Commercial Poultry1
Gary D. Butcher, DVM, Ph.D.2
Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection in the commercial poultry industry is common in many parts of the world. Despite success in eliminating the disease in grand parent (GP) stock and turkeys, it persists in broiler breeders and broilers in many areas. There also continues to be a high incidence of the disease in commercial layers worldwide. The continued presence of MG in commercial poultry suggests that efforts at eradication were not highly successful. MG infection in the commercial poultry industry will likely continue and limiting losses will be the primary objective.

M. gallisepticum infection is caused by an organism classified as a mycoplasma. This organism is similar to bacteria, but lacks a cell wall. This characteristic makes MG extremely fragile. They are easily killed by disinfectants, heat, sunlight, and other factors. They only remain viable in the environment, outside the chicken, for typically up to 3 days. For this reason, MG is fairly easy to eliminate on single-age, all-in all-out poultry farms. If a laying flock is infected, complete depopulation of the farm at the end of the laying cycle and providing down-time prior to reintroducing chickens will be successful in eliminating MG. However, complete depopulation must be performed to break the cycle and prevent re-infection in subsequent flocks on the premises.

When a chicken is infected with MG, the infection is of long duration. In the period after infection, the organism is present in the respiratory tissues in high levels and is shed into the environment and eggs. After several weeks, the level of infection and shed of the organism decreases. However, the infection persists in the flock indefinitely and the chickens may shed the organism intermittently, especially following a period of stress. This characteristic makes elimination of MG extremely difficult in multi-age breeder and laying complexes. As MG-clean pullets, raised in single-age farms and in isolation, are brought onto the complex, they are often exposed to the organism at probably the worst possible time-- at the onset of production. This cycle of spread continues in a complex with new flock introductions.

Efforts to reduce the adverse affects of the disease on breeders and egg-type layers in complexes have included use of antibiotics, killed vaccines, and live vaccines. These efforts have been successful in reducing drops in egg production following infection, maintaining levels of egg production throughout the cycle, reducing severity of concurrent respiratory diseases, controlling excess vaccine reactions, reducing sensitivity to air quality, limiting shed level and duration into the poultry house environment, and reducing egg transmission to broiler progeny. These efforts have not been successful, however, in eliminating infection and shed. More recently, live vaccines have become commercially available that do not spread from bird to bird, do not cause disease in turkeys, and cause a very mild and predictable reaction in pullets. These offer many advantages over the live vaccines used in the past. Most MG-positive breeder and egg-type layer complex managers administer these products to pullets prior to moving the MG-clean pullets onto infected complexes. Use of killed vaccines is common in some farms, especially broiler breeder complexes. While live vaccines are more commonly used in egg-type commercial layers. However, combinations of live and killed vaccines and antibiotics are used depending on local conditions. Use of antibiotics is most practical in broilers for controlling respiratory reaction.

M. gallisepticum is spread only short distances by the air-borne route. Where excellent biosecurity is practiced, there have been many instances where infection has not spread to adjacent houses within a complex. The disease is spread from farm to farm predominantly by movement of contaminated people, equipment and vehicles. Thus, basic biosecurity is the best means of preventing introduction of MG into layer and breeder complexes. Egg transmission to broiler progeny occurs at a low level from infected breeders, however, horizontal infection then readily occurs in broiler houses. Another potential means of transmission of MG that has not often been given much attention is the spread by wild birds and pet birds. Data have demonstrated that wild birds may become infected and shed MG. Likewise, the author in 1990 conducted a series of experiments and was able to infect, produce clinical disease, and isolate a classical MG field strain from budgerigars (parakeets). These findings further demonstrate the need to wild-bird-proof poultry houses when possible and to discourage company employees from ownership and/or contact with pet birds.

The decision to vaccinate or simply accept performance losses in commercial layers will depend on several factors. The strain of MG in a farm must be considered as some strains of MG are mild while others are highly virulent. House construction is a major factor in determining the severity of clinical disease. Open-sided houses and closed houses with excellent ventilation do not experience recognizable losses in performance, while the same layers in a closed-type house with poor ventilation will experience considerable performance losses. Thus, vaccination programs for MG must take into account the air quality where layers will be housed. Concurrent diseases such as coryza and infectious laryngotracheitis and the intensity of the live virus vaccination program, especially against IBV, NDV, ILT, are also variables to take into consideration.

MG infection in heavy breeders, almost without exception, requires intervention with vaccines and antibiotics. These breeders suffer significant loses and shed the organism to the progeny.

M. gallisepticum vaccination has been shown to reduce shed level and duration. Thus, if efforts are being made to eradicate MG on a commercial layer or breeder farm or reduce potential spread to neighboring non-infected farms, vaccination is suggested.

Affected broiler breeder flocks should be vaccinated prior to onset of infection and broilers managed and treated to reduce adverse of affects of MG.

It is unlikely MG will be eradicated from the commercial poultry industry in the coming years. However, through biosecurity programs and effective use of vaccines, losses can be reduced.

Footnotes
1.
This document is VM130, one of a series of the Veterinary Medicine-Large Animal Clinical Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date May 2002. Reviewed April 2009. Visit the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.


2.
Gary. D. Butcher, DVM, Ph.D., Diplomate, American College of Poultry Veterinarians, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL


Email me any questions

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

well what did you do for medication and I would give it to all the birds as the sick ones were in there

QUESTIONS

did any one visit and pick up chickens
either of the two that has the eye problem?
DO NOT ALLOW ANY ONE TO COME TO THE FARM
AND YOU DO NOT GO TO ANY FARM OF CHICKENS

Also get VETRX
do this
ISOLATE THE SICK BIRDS IMMEDIATELY
put good amt on head of each chicken infected
make sure there is a drop in each eye
also under each wing of sick birds
give each chicken 1/2 tsp twice a day
put 1 tsp with medication in water


buy the tylan powder and start medication
EMAIL ME THE AMT YOU ARE TO PUT IN THE WATER
and I will help you use it in wet mash for two mornings to get it into the birds as a total goup[

YOU NEED TO USE SOME 2PARTS CLOROX AND 10 PARTS WATER
AND SANITIZE ALL FEEDERS AND WATERS

THEN USE SOME THING FLAT TO PUT CLOROX INTO SO YOU CAN STEP INTO IT

Have you checked with any of the ones you sent eggs or chicks to?

it may just be a eye infection
also you can use some sterile eye wash and terramycin salve for the eyes
BUT DO USE THE VETRX as it has healing powers and camphor to losen the sinus problem if there is any

email me

 

[Cuban Longtails]

She could have just injured the eye and it's infected now. If you separate her and none of your other birds are showing symptoms then it's not anything contagious.

 

[hdgddd]

We had a rooster whos eye looked like that. My daughter had a fit she thought his eye was gone but it was so swollen you couldn't see it. We took him to the vet and they gave me an ointment to put in it called NeoPolyDex. We kept him in the house away from the others and within 3 days after using the ointment his eye was better.

 

[The Monkey Mama]

I've spent most of the day researching MG, and it really does not sound like what my birds have. I'm taking a "wait and see" approach [and I've contacted the friends I've given birds to to tell them to be on the lookout for any symptoms] for now, but I'm going to stop panicking.

Rainbow [the bird in the pictures] was doing much better today. Her eye is still swollen, but she's free ranging, eating well, and being active [she wasn't 2 days ago]. The other pullet that had her eye closed that I was worried about looked fine today.

I spent quite a lot of time watching my flock today and none of them have any respiratory symptoms, no discharge, no sneezing. Only the one swollen eye and the one that had her eye closed.

I'm really thinking it may be the mold issue, but I'm going to be watching very carefully.

As for how I could have gotten it - I think if they do have it it would have had to come in through infected hatching eggs. I have hatched eggs this year from dozens of folks all over the country - I had no idea that hatching eggs could harbor disease until today.

I haven't taken on any birds from anyone else in a year [and those came from a very close, trusted friend, and they've been perfectly healthy] until last week, and that broody I took in last week is still in quarantine with the chicks I gave her, so I know it isn't her spreading things.

Anyway, I appreciate all the help! I *deeply* appreciate the advice and information, both on this thread and PMs! I'll try to update as I figure things out!

Kelly

 

[NicInNC]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=160504

This is what happened with my chicken a couple months ago. She's been fine since then. Try the ointment. Tractor Supply sells it. It took about a week to clear up. Just flush the eye with a saline solution and apply the ointment 2 times a day.

 

[NotTheMomma]

How are things going?

 

[The Monkey Mama]

Well, Rainbow's eye is still swollen shut. Some of the swelling has gone down - I am not sure her eye is still there though the more I look at it.

None of the others have gotten sick. That one little pullet was keeping one of her eyes closed sometimes, but yesterday and today she's been active and looking fine. No other symptoms. We've never had any of them with a runny nose or sneezing or anything at all.

I went ahead and bought Tylan powder and VetRx and I'm treating the whole flock just in case. But I'm thinking now that this was probably an injury to Rainbow's eye and not some dread contagious disease... only time will tell I guess!

Thanks for asking! Rainbow is still eating and moving around, though not nearly as energetic as she used to be, but I have hope she is going to recover.

Kelly