5 week old pullet with facial swelling

[TheOddOneOut]

My little girl, Indigo, has swelling on each side of her face. It’s slight, but noticeable.

Her face was not like this the day before yesterday.
Her nostrils are clear and fine. No discharge. Eyes are bright and clear of bubbles or discharge. Breathing is not audible.
She does occasionally sneeze but that’s mostly when she’s eating her dusty crumbles.

How concerned should I be? Please nobody say MG yet…that is not ideal. And I know it’s a possibility.

I’m looking for less drastic diagnoses.

She lives outside in a little tractor with her 5 broodermates. I thought I noticed slight swelling on the Orpington’s face as well, but couldn’t be sure. The rest of the little flock seem okay.

These birds are destined for sale, so I really need them to not be carriers of a highly pathogenic viral infection.
Anyone able to reassure me that they’re okay?
Other thoughts are welcome too, although they will make me less happy.
TIA

 

[Wyorp Rock]

These birds are destined for sale, so I really need them to not be carriers of a highly pathogenic viral infection.
Anyone able to reassure me that they’re okay?

No one here can assure you they are ok. The only way to have any type of reasonable assurance would be to have some testing through your state lab or an independent lab.

I do see some facial swelling.
Any lice or mites, fleas, ants? Anything inside the beaks like canker, yeast, mucous?
Coop ventilation good, no ammonia?

I could be MG, yes, I said it. It could be a number of things though. I would monitor them and see if the symptoms progress or get better.
Sorry, but I wouldn't sell them until I figured it out. If something in their environment is the cause, then hopefully you can easily correct it.

Where did they come from?

 

[TheOddOneOut]

No one here can assure you they are ok. The only way to have any type of reasonable assurance would be to have some testing through your state lab or an independent lab.

I do see some facial swelling.
Any lice or mites, fleas, ants? Anything inside the beaks like canker, yeast, mucous?
Coop ventilation good, no ammonia?

I could be MG, yes, I said it. It could be a number of things though. I would monitor them and see if the symptoms progress or get better.
Sorry, but I wouldn't sell them until I figured it out. If something in their environment is the cause, then hopefully you can easily correct it.

Where did they come from?

I do not plan to sell them if her symptoms worsen.
No bugs. The inside of the beak is normally colored and clear.
Coop ventilation is very good.
I know it could be MG. I'm just trying to put off that possibility for now. She seems to be completely fine besides the puffy cheeks.

They are all from Wilco. I have six large-breed pullets in this batch, all aged 5-6 weeks.

They all are healthy happy babies...just the swelling is making me nervous. Hopefully it doesn't get worse.

I have a flock of five 2-year-old hens. I had one die quite recently, but she exhibited zero symptoms like what Indigo here has. She seemed to be egg bound. Her death was quite sudden - I got home from school on the 21st to find her dead.

So I believe that was completely unrelated.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Anything inside the ears?

Think...any changes to bedding, feed, etc.?

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Anything inside the ears?

Think...any changes to bedding, feed, etc.?

Checked the ears. They’re normal. She’s mad at me for messing with her feathery ear tufts.
I mean, she just moved outside full-time with her flockmates a week ago. But she started going outside way before that. I took them out on lengthy field trips almost daily.
I don’t think the wood that her tractor coop is made of would cause her any irritation, but who knows.

I haven’t checked on her yet today, so I will go do that and if anything has changed I will update y’all.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

@casportpony, I believe our dear Kiki showed you the wrong photos. The ones in my first post her more clearly show the swelling I noticed - behind the eye and towards the ear.

 

[casportpony]

This?

 

[TheOddOneOut]

View attachment 3087892

This?

Yes.
I see her every day, and those spots are definitely puffed up. It’s not a huge big deal (Heck, Kiki can’t even see it) but facial swelling seems to be something that should be taken seriously in poultry.

 

[casportpony]

If you press on it, what happens?

 

[TheOddOneOut]

If you press on it, what happens?

It feels firm, but not too hot. Maybe a little warm. It moves with her skin. It’s not squishy like there’s pus under there, and she doesn’t really complain like it hurts if I touch it.